THE 
EMPORIUM 
OP 
ARTS AND SCIENCES. 
Vol. 1.] July, 1812. [No. 3. 
No. 24. 
ON SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION* 
(Continued from page 104.) 
bn the Combustion of the Human Body , produced by the 
long and immoderate use of Spirituous Liquors . By 
Pierre-Aime Lair.* 
IN natural as well as civil history there are facts pre- 
sented to the meditation of the observer, which, though 
confirmed by the most convincing testimony, seem on the 
first view to be destitute of probability. Of this kind is 
that of people consumed by coming into contact with 
common fire, and of their bodies being reduced to ashes. 
How can we conceive that fire, in certain circumstances, 
can exercise so powerful an action on the human body as 
to produce this effect? One might be induced to give 
less faith to these instances of combustion, as they seem 
to be rare. I confess that at first they appeared to me 
worthy of very little credit, but they are presented to the 
public as true by men whose veracity seems unquestion- 
* Tillochj vol. 6. p, 132. From the Journal de Physique, Plnvio.se, year 8? 
Vol, r, x 
