4 



and, in a building containing property 

 of sncli inestimable value as the 

 British. Museum, may cause tbe total 

 destruction or ruin of everytliing 

 saturated with wet, it is to be dis- 

 tinctly understood, that under no 

 circumstances must any water be 

 thrown, until the nature and extent 

 of the Fire have been fir^t ascertained 

 by actual observation of the person 

 giving orders. 



For this purpose it will be neces- 

 sary to enter the room, and approach 

 the supposed point of danger as 

 closely as possible ; but it is particu- 

 larly enjoined that, he fore doing so, 

 the responsible person should see that 

 the hose and other necessary apparatus 

 are laid out and ready for immediate 

 work, as the opening of the doors to 

 admit the men will, at the same time, 

 admit a fresh supply of air to the fire. 

 In entering a room on Fire or full 

 of smoke, it is advisable to go on the 

 hands and knees, as there will nearly 

 always be a current of pure air close 

 to the floor, and as far as practicable 

 the man who goes first should have 

 both hands free, and the second man 

 should be the one to carry the branch ; 

 and here it may be well to add, that 

 under ordinary circumstances no man 



