176 On the Combustion of the Human Body , 
It now remains to decide, from these instances, re- 
specting the accidental or spontaneous causes which pro- 
duce combustion* Nature, by assuming a thousand dif- 
ferent forms, seems at first as if desirous to elude our ob- 
servation ; but, on mature, reflection, if it be found easy 
to prove accidental combustion, spontaneous combustion 
appears altogether improbable ; for, even admitting the 
instances of people suffocated by flames which issued 
from their mouths, this is still far from the combustion of 
the whole body* There is a great difference between 
this semi-combustion and spontaneous combustion so 
complete as to reduce the body to ashes, as in the cases 
above mentioned. As the human body has never been 
seen to experience total combustion, these assertions seem 
rather the production of a fervid imagination than of real 
observation ; and it too often happens that Nature in her 
mode of action does not adopt our manner of seeing. 
I shall not extend further these observations on the 
combustion of the human body, as I flatter myself that 
after this examination every person must be struck with 
the relation which exists between the cause of this phe- 
nomenon and the effects that ensue. A system embellish- 
ed with imaginary charms is often seducing, but it never 
presents a perfect whole. We have seen facts justify 
reasoning, and reasoning serve afterwards to explain 
facts. The combustion of the human body, which on 
the first view r appears to have in it something of the mar- 
vellous, when explained, exhibits nothing but the utmost 
simplicity : so true it is, that the wonderful is often pro- 
duced by effects which, as they rarely strike our eyes, 
permit our minds so much the less to discover their real 
cause. 
Some people, however, may ascribe to the wickedness 
of mankind what we ascribe to accident. It may be said, 
that assassins, after putting to death their unfortunate 
