06 On Spontaneous Inflammations, 
any longer doubt, that the frequency of fires in cow- 
houses, which, in those parts, are mostly wooden build- 
ings, may not be occasioned by this common practice, of 
binding roasted bran about the necks of the cattle ? The 
fire, after consuming the cattle and the shed, communi- 
cates itself to the adjoining buildings ; great damage en 
sues ; and the ignorant look for the cause in wilful and 
malicious firing, consequently in a capital crime. 
Montet relates, in the Memoir es de VAcademie de Pa- 
ris, 1748, that animal substances, under certain circum- 
stances, may kindle into flame ; and that he himself has 
been witness to the spontaneous accension of dung-hills. 
The woollen stuff prepared at Sevennes, which bears 
the name of Emperor’s-stuff, has kindled of itself, and 
burnt to a coal. It is not unusual for this to happen to 
woollen stuffs, when in hot summers they are laid in a 
heap, in a room but little aired. 
In June, 1781, the same thing happened at a wool- 
comber’s, in a manufacturing town in Germany, where a 
heap of wool- combings, piled up in a close warehouse 
seldom aired, took fire of itself. This wool had been by 
little and little brought into the warehouse ; and, for 
want of room, piled up very high, and trodden doAvn, 
that more might be added to it. That this combed wool, 
to which, as is well known, rape-oil mixed with butter 
is used in the combing, burnt of itself, was sworn by se- 
veral witnesses. One of them affirmed that, ten years 
before, a similar fire happened among the flocks of wool 
at a clothier’s, who had put them into a cask, where they 
were rammed hard, for their easier conveyance. This 
wool burnt from within outwards, and became quite a 
coal ; it was very certain that neither fire nor light had 
been used at the packing, consequently the above fires 
arose from similar causes. 
In like manner very credible cloth- Avorkers have cet 
