104? On Spontaneous Inflammations . 
bable, that, even on this occasion, it was entirely owing 
to the attention of the Empress that it was made an ob- 
ject of inquiry, or even that it was at all observed. 
Before I finish this paper, I will just mention a self- 
accension, not noticed till of late, and that by Mr. Hage- 
mann, an apothecary at Bremen. He prepared a boiled 
oil of hyoscyamus , oy henbane, in the usual way, with 
common oil. The humidity of the herb was nearly eva- 
porated, when he was called away by other affairs, and 
was obliged to leave the oil on the fire. The evapora- 
tion of the humidity was hereby carried so far, that the 
herb could easily be rubbed to powder. The oil had 
lost its green colour, and had become brownish. In this 
state it was laid on the straining- cloth, and placed in the 
garden, behind the house, in the open air. 
In the space of half an hour, on coming again to this 
place, he perceived a strong smoke there, though he 
thought the oil must long have been cooled : on closer 
inspection, he found that the smoke did not proceed from 
the oil, but from the herb on the straining- cloth ; at the 
the same time the smell betrayed a concealed fire. 
He stirred the herb about, and blew into it with a bel- 
lows, whereupon it broke out into a bright flame. Had 
this herb been placed in the house, near the fire, it might 
easily have been supposed that a spark had flown into it, 
which had caused the inflammation ; but this was not the 
case ; the herb had kindled of itself. W e see from this, 
that those who are intrusted with the preparation of boil- 
ed oils should take care they do not give occasion to dan- 
gers by fire, which may excite suspicions of felonious de- 
signs, to the ruin of innocent persons in their lives or re- 
putations. I am, &c. W. Tooke. 
( To he continued. J 
