106 Protection of Persons from Fire. 



the warlike armor of the ancients, who combated in their ponderous 

 clothing in fields far less honorable than those where humanity is the 

 motive, and the saving of human hfe, the prize. 



To reduce this apparatus to the greatest possible simplicity, the 

 author found that the cuiras and pantaloons of metallic tissue might 

 be omitted, and a dress of prepared cloth substituted, consisting of 

 a jacket and pantaloons combined, with a cloth girdle. They may 

 be drawn on over the common clothes in a few moments. 



The cloth of which this vestment is made, must be prepared by a 

 previous soaking in some saline solution. Phosphate of ammonia is 

 the best, but alum is cheaper, and answers very well. One immer- 

 sion of the cloth in the solution is not enough. The solution should 

 be saturated, by dissolving the powdered alum in warm water. But 

 the author, finding that the alum crystallizes on the surface of the 

 cloth and then easily rubs off, proposes a strong solution of carbonate 

 of potash as a substitute. He admits that the potash must be satu- 

 rated with carbonic acid, otherwise the causticity of the potash would 

 destroy the cloth ; but he does not advert to the fact that the intense 

 heat to which the garment is to be exposed, might decompose the 

 carbonate, and thus defeat the intended advantage. He finds that 

 sulphate of iron, or of zinc, or other metallic oxides, will answer the 

 purpose. 



In case of urgent necessity, a solution of common salt would be 

 very useful, and even if a garment should be sponged with this solu- 

 tion, it would have a decided tendency to preserve it from combus- 

 tion. 



If over this vestment of prepared saline cloth, a tunic of metallic 

 tissue, and pantaloons of the same material, were worn, the defence 

 would be very great, and combine safety v/ith facility of motion. 

 This kind of dress, the author thinks, would answer very well in com- 

 mon fires ; but, in consulting the history of conflagrations, he is satis- 

 fied that in extensive and violent fires, the armor first proposed ought 

 not to be dispensed with^ and that the buckler and cuiras ought to 

 be used. 



Chap- VIII. — On the means of saving persons and valuable objects, 

 in buildings on fire. 



This chapter, after noticing the difficulty and danger that people 

 are often in wlien their own or an adjacent dwelling takes fire, con- 



