Protection of Persons from Fire. 105 



it is often advisable that a passage should be opened to the air, even at 

 the expense of greater combustion, for a fireman properly armed against 

 the heat, might be less in danger from it than from suffocation by 

 smoke, and better able to extend relief, it would be well for fire- 

 men to learn to be able to suspend their respiration for a considera- 

 ble time. This, with the other precautions, would enable them to' 

 render more extensive aid in cases of difficulty and suffering. 



Chap. VII. — On the dress ft for passing through flame^ and on 

 the construction of different parts of the armon 



In all cases where the fire is violent, and the exposure to it must 

 be continued for some time, the body must be completely envel- 

 oped with the resisting materials, and even then the buckler should 

 be also used. A complete armor is composed of a cap of double 

 metallic gauze, a cuiras or breast plate, pantaloons, gloves of metal- 

 lic cloth, and of stockings of amianthus, over which metallic boots 

 can be drawn. The cap of metallic gauze, and the mask of amian- 

 thus, have been described. The cuiras is composed of a light iron- 

 frame, covered with metallic tissue, destined to protect the trunk 

 from the action of the fire. It closes on one of its sides, and has but 

 one sleeve of metallic tissue, which is furnished at the elbow with a 

 piece of metallic gauze, to give freedom to the arm 5 on the other 

 side it is open, so as to be promptly fixed, and it fastens with brass 

 buttons. The other arm will be sufficiently defended by the buck- 

 ler. The pantaloons are of strong metaUic tissue, terminated above 

 by a thin iron plate with a longitudinal slit, so that by means of but- 

 tons and button holes it can be adapted to the shape of the wearer. 

 These pantaloons cover the cuiras at top, and below they enter the 

 metallic boots. But these boots the inventor finally abandoned, not 

 only on account of their heaviness, but because they did not enclose 

 the feet with sufficient firmness. In their place he substituted bus- 

 kins of double metallic tissue, with a sole made of a very thin plate 

 of iron articulated, and large enough to enclose the foot. 



There should be provided a number of these complete armors of 

 different sizes. 



It was an examination of ancient armor that led M. Aldini to this 

 contrivance ; and it has been his study to render it as light and as 

 supple as possible, and he is well persuaded that in its present slate it 

 would not be found oppressive to any fireman. It is far lighter than 



Vol. XX.— No. 1. 14 



