lgotice in regard lO /he daeulator -~'i~h. ~i~

;has about 4000 piles upon it, each disk, at a moderat~ calculation, would present about a million of points to the~ljghL: T t~e . f ac~ agree with some principles generallyreceived, as establ coincidences between the phenomena of light am! electfi6!t~;~;~,4i~

Some farther observations were made on th~ ,effect~ of the ~ ¢ ~ f light on bodies of difli~rent forms. While bodies having:,pi~gi, turned their edges towards the source of the light~ and ~ ~a'eir flat~ sides parallel to the line of incidence, bodies of a concaves: shape, vacillated continually in an are of from 5 ° to 45 °, according to ithe, intensity of the beam of light. Bodies of a cylindrical form, crlossed the line of incidence at an angle ofabdut £5 °. Transparent lense~.: (as of amber) keep their axes parallel with the incidental rays, An4 spherical opaque bodies, when nicely suspended or balanced, have the tendency to revolve continually when the beams of the sun fall clearly upon them.

Some applications were made of the phenomena described, as far- ther elucidating facts already known, as the attraction of the leaves and petals of plants to the light,--the formation of crystals,---the knowledge that birds and quadrupeds seem to possess of the cardinal points, as probably arising from the sensibility of their hairs and feathers to the impressions of light, electricity~ and. magnetism, and through them to the n~rvous~ system and:sensbriur~ :~ A~s.fatthe~ex~ planatory of the polarity of the needle i f any current of magnetism. is allowed to exist, and of the diurnal variation of the pointihg and~ dip, as dependant on the motions of the sun; and from the principle that light attracts bodies or the parts of bodies that have been in the shade, and repels that which has been for som~ influence, producing by this means a continual of a spheroidal form; it is thought probable-tlq cause of the diurnal rotation of the earth arid th

It has not been observed that any of these badi.es indicate the electrical changes of the atmosphere; because the- changes in respect to them must be general, or affecting each part of them equally, The silver-leaf, indeed~ has sometimes a curmus vibratory moti0~y but these vibrations are evidently regulated by any beam o~;iight falling on the disk. Two of the disks suspended, on tw6pivotS, dhd opposed to each o~er, would no doubt act as an: elect¢osdope.; .i~i/.~::

Notice in regard, to th~ Jaculator Fish of Jav~ or Chxtodon rostra. turn, Lin. By Jt, M~.S MiTeam.z, Esq. Surgeon, R. N.

WmLST residing in theisland of Java, in December., 18£~, I heard, of an extraordinary species of fish, in: t ~ possession of a Javanesw chief, who lived within a mile of the town of Batavia.

Accordingly I went to see it, in company with Mr. Johnson, the commaner of the sh~p Gudford, in ~which I was a passenger,and~ ~vith an interpreter,

30 Nolice in regard to the Jaeulalor t~ish.

On our arrival at the chief's villa, we were treated by him witk great courtesy. After conversing with him some t ime he permitted us to visit his gardens to see these fish, upon which he placed a high value, and would on no account part with one of them:

The fish were placed in a small circular pond, from the centre of which projected a pole upwards of two feet in height. At the top of this pole were inserted-small pieces of wood, sharp pointed, ann on eacti of these were placed insects of the beetle tribe. The placing of this pole and insects by the slaves had disturbed the tranquillity of the fish, so we had to wait some considerable t ime before their began their operations~ but this delay was amply recompensed y b the amusement they afterwards afforded us. W h e n all had been tranquil for a long time, they came Out of their holes, and swam round and round the pouch One of them came to the surface of the water, rested there, and after steadily fixing its eyes for some t ime on an insect, it discharged from its mouth a small quantity of watery fluid, with such force and precision of aim, as to force it off the twig into the water, and in an instant swallowed it.

After this, another fish came and:performed a similar feat, and was followed by the others, till they halt secured all the insects. I ob- served, that, if a fish failed in br in ing down its prey at the f i r s t shot, that it swam round the pond, till it came opposite to the Same object, and fired again. In one instance I observed one of these animals return three times to the attack before it secured its prey; but, in general, they seeme~t to be expert gunners, bringing dowm their prey at the first shot.

I was informed that these fish were originally imported from Cttina, and are now the only specimens alive in Java, although about fifty years ago they were in possession of several of the Javanese chiefs. [ could not learn their proper name; the only one that I heard was the usual term for fish made use of by the Jav]~nese, viz " I con "

From the view we had of them, which was only in tim water, they appeared short, about five or six inches in length, rather flat ir~ the body, with blackish stripes variously interspersed.-

The slaves of this chief fed the fish with insects regularly twice a day, in the manner I have described.

This appears to me a novel species of instinct implanted in these animals by the wise author of nature, enabling them"to secure the i r prey, by shooting, in this manner, those insects that should happen "co rest on any of the aquatic plants growing in the ponds they inhabit, and placed by their height out of their reach.

When they eject the water from their mouths, i t is attended b y a noise like one spitting, or squirting with a syringe. •

a s I had no opportunity of examining these fish, I cou.ld not say ~vhether the finial they squirted from their mouths was the p r o d u c t of secreti0n, or merely the water from the pond.* [ / b .

* The first account of this fish wa.~ published in the Transactions Of the lgoyal Society of London, vol. liv. p. 89. It is contained in a letter to M[r. p, £ollin8) F. It. S. from J. A. Schlosser , M D.) F. R.S. The following is a n ex.

S l

On the Spontaneous Combustion of the Human Bodlt.

o,~ the E2th of May~ 1828,M. Julia Fontenelle read, in the academy of sciences at Paris, a memoir entitled, l~echerche, Ch~miquesa Medicales sur les Combustions 11uraaines Spontandes.

The observations which form the subject of this memoir are highly deserving of attention. In fact, besides the interest which they ai:e capable of exciting from their very nature, they afford a new exam- ple of one of those phenomena, the existence of which has, in these later times, been questioned, solely because, while they are very singular and difficult to be accounted for, they are also of such rare occurrence, that they can only be authenticated by an aggregate mass of evidence, which evidence, although sufficient to induce con- viction, may always be rejected by those who are prejudiced, or who do not give themselves the trouble of duly estimating their value.

Are there really spontaneous combustions of the human body?

tract from the letter: "Governor Hommel* gives the following account of the jaculator or shooting-fish, a name alluding to its nature. It frcquents the shores and sides of the sea and rivers in search of food. When it spies a fly sitting on the plants that grow in shallow water~ it swims on to the distance of four, five, or six feet, and then, with a'surprising dexterity, i t e j ec t s out of its tubular mouth a single drop of water, which never fails stria:trig the fly into the sea, where it soon becomes its prey.

" T h e relation of this uncommon action of this cunning fish raised the gover- nor's curiosity; though it came well attested, ye t he was determined, if possible, to be convinced of the truth, by ocular demonstration.

" F o r that purpose, he ordered a large wide tun to be filled with sea-water; then had some of these fish caught, and put into it, which was changed ,every other day. In a while they seemed reconciled to their confinement; then he determined to try the experiment.

" . . , - . . - . - ~ .~ v_...~ .~o ~ , " " " should strike it. ~. tm:Asle~2er : tmk~w2th asfly p~t~edfi:~ at its end, was placed in such a direc-

" I t was with inexpressible delight that tie daily saw these fish exercising their skill in shooting at th e fly with an amazing velocity, and never missed the mark."

T~ en follows Linn~us's description, taken .from his work of the Museum of the king of Sweden, printed in 1754, where it bears the name of Ch~etodon rostralum.

In ,vol. IvLp. 186, there is a t~arther account of the habits:0f this fish, in a letter f rom Mr. Hornmel: " W h e n the jaculator fish~" he ,says~ ~.intends to catch a fly,-o~ any other insect, which is seen at a distan6e, it approaches very slowly ancl cautiouslv~ and comes, as much as possible er endieularl unde r the object: then, the body being put in an oblique posi~iPon,Pand the m~uth and eyes being near the surface of the water, the jaculator stays a moment quite immoveable, having its eyes directly fixed on the insect, arid then begins to shoot, without ever showing its mouth above the surface of the water, out of which, the single drop, shot at the object, seems to rise. No more than two different species of this fish are found h e r e . " The first is that already men- tioned, as described by Linnaeus, under the name Ch~etodon rostratum, and to which all the above refers. The other is described by Dr. Pallas, under the name of ,.qd~a jaculatrlce, p. 187, of the same volume. Both species are figured.~Enx~r0a.

• Mr. Hommelt governor oftheho~pita! at Batavia.

32 On l]te SpoTdaneous Comb~tslion ojf l]~e t t u ~ a n Body.

Such is the first question which the author examines, and he resolveg i t by the affirmative. Fifteen observations of spontaneous combus- ~tions, which he successively relates, enable him not only to establish the incontestible reality of the phenomenon, but also to make known the principal circumstances which accompany its manifestation. I n summing up these circumstances~ he remarks:

J. That persons, who have been destroyed by spontaneous com- bustion, have, for the most part, been immoderately addicted to the ~se of spirituous liquors.

~. That this combustion is almost always general, but that it may be only partial.

3. That it is much rarer in men than in women, and that the women in which it has been manifested, have almost all been aged; one woman only was seventeen years of age, and in her the c0m- bustion was but partial.

4. That the body and viscera have always been burnt, while the feet, the hands, and the top of the head, havealmost always escaped.

5. Although it is demonstrated that several loads of wood are necessary for reducing a dead body to ashes by ordinary combustion, incineration is effected in spontaneous combustions without the most combustible obiects l~laced in the vicinity beiu~ burnt In one case ~ere was a very singular coincidence of two persons being con-

sumed at the same time, in the same apartment, without the apart- ment or the furniture being burnt.

6. It is not demonstrated that the presence of a burning body is necessary for producing spontaneous combustion of the human bddy$ on the contrary, there is every reason to believe the reverse.

;'. Water, so far from extinguishing the flame, seems to render i t more active; and alter the flame has disappeared, the intimate com- bustion co~tinues to be efthcted.

8. Spontaneous combustions have appeared more fi-equently in winter than in summer.

9. No remedy has been found for general combustion, but only for partial.

10. Those who undergo spontaneous combustion, are the prey of a violent internal heat.

11. Spontaneous combustion devetopes itself suddenly, and con- sumes the body in a few hours.

12. The parts of the body which are not consumed by it~ are attacked with sphacelus.

!3. In individuals affected by spontaneous combustion, there su- pervenes a putrid deterioration~ wl~ich presently brings on'gangrene.

14. The residumn of spontaneous combustion consists of greasy ashes, and an unctuous soot, both having a fetid odour, which dii'- fuses itself equally through the apartment, impregnatin~ the furni- ture, and extending to a great distance. . . . . . . . . .

The author then explains the two theories Of combustion, betweer~ ~hlch, the learned world is at present divided; Lavoisier's, and that ately.proposed by Berzelius. He then gives an account of t h e

theories proposed for the explanation of the phenomeno~tin question-

0~ the Spontaneous Combustion of theHuraan Bodg. S3

Most authors, who have spoken of spontaneous combustions, have imagined they discovered an intimate relation between their mani- festation and the immoderate use of spirituous liquors "in the indi- viduals attacked. They suppose that these liquors, being continually in contact with the stomach, penetrate through tile tissues, and fill them up to saturation, in sucl~ a manner that t-he approach of a burn- ing body is sufficient to induce combustion in them.

M. Julia Fontenelle, does not consider this explanation satisfac: tory. He founds his opinion, 1st, on the circumstance that there is no proof of this alleged saturation of the organs in persons addicted to the use of spirits; 2dly, on the circumstance that this saturation itself, would not suffice to render the body combustible,--and, to demonstrate this assertion, he gives the result of several experiments, in which he in Vain tried to render ox-flesh inflammable, IJy steeping it for several months in brandy, and even in alcohol and ether.

Another explanation has been proposed. Dr. Marc, and with him several other physicians, from the development of hydrogen gas, which takes place in greater or less quantity in the intestines, have been led to imagine, that a similar development may take place in other parts of the body, and that the gas might take fire on the ap- proach of a burning body, or by an electrical action produced by the electric fluid, which might be developed in the individuals thus 'burnt. According to this theory, MM. Lecat¢ Kopp, and Marei su ose, in sub'ects affected b s ontaneouscombustion, 1 Anidio- l Pp . 'J y P • e ectrlc state; ~. The development uf hydrogen gas; 3. Its accu- mulation in the cellular tissue.

This latter explanation would appear to be confirmed by a very curious observation of M. Bailly's. That physician, on openinz, in the presence of twenty pupils~ a (lead body, over the whole of ~fich there was an emphysema, which was greater in the lower extremi- t iesthan any where else, remarked, that, whenever a longitudinal incision was made, a gas escaped, which burned with a blue flame. The puncture of the abdomen yielded a stream of it more than six inches high. What was very remarkable, was, that the gases con- tained in the intestines, so far from increasing the flame, extinguish' ed it.

M. Julia Fontenelle, for reasons similar to those which induced him to reject the first hypothesis, is of opinion that the presence of hydrogen gas cannot be admitted as the cause of spontaneous com- bustion. He tbunds this opinion more p~trticularly upon experiments, • i h . . . . . . . . . m wh c he in vain trmd to render very thin shoes Of flesh combus- tible, by keeping them for three days immersed in pure hydrogen gas, m percarburetted hvdrozen ~as. and in oxvzen L~as.

Lastly, he considers "the ~pini=on'equa|ly unt~na6ie, that sponta- neous combustion of tile human body, is owing to a combination of animal matter with tile oxygen of the air, whatever may be the alte=' rations w!lich this matter may undergo: 1. Because a sufficient tern: perature is not developed; ~. Because, admitting this combustion as real, the residuum would be a charcoal, which could only be in- cinerated at a red beat, while, on the contrary, there is noticing but

Vol.. V I I . ~ N o . 1.~JANIla~y~ 18~29. 5

~4 0u lhe ~o~tan~o'us Combu~lio~ oy the ~Yuman ~odj.

ashes; $. Because one of the products of spontaneous combusti0r~ of the human body, is an unctuous substance, which the comhu.s%a of animal substances never yields; 4. Because it scarcely yields any ammoniacal products~ while such are always produced by aniIaal combustion.

Alter thus rejecting all the hypotheses hitherto proposed, M. Ju- lia Fontenelle concludes that this phenomenon is the result of aN internal decomposition, and is altogether independent of the iI~- fluence of external agents. We give his own words:

" We consider," says he, " what are called spontaneous combu~. tions of the human body, not as true combustions, but as intimata and spontaneous reactions, which depend upon new products orig,.. hating from o. degenerati(m of the n'~uscles, tendons, visceral" &¢.

this latter gas," &c. It may be objected, however~ lhat, whatever ma be the cause

which induces tl~is combustion, the cah~ric disengagYed ought to I~, considerable, and, consequently, should iznite all the objects in tke netgtb¢~ur~ood. We reply to this, that a~l combustibleYsubstances do not by any means d~sengage an equal quantity of caloric by cora- b . . . . ushou. Davy has shown, that a metallic gauze, having 160 holes in the square inch, and made of wire one-sixtieth of an inch in dia- meter, is penetrated at the ordinary temperature, by the flame o f hydrogen gas, while it is impermeable to that of alcohol, unless the g'au~e~: be. very much. heated. Accordin~o to the same chemist, gau~e of th~s kind, raised to a red heat, allows the flame of hydrogen ga~r to pass through it, without being permeable to percarburetted hydro- gen gas. It is probable f,'om this, that the pro~lucts arising fr~'m the degeueration of the body~ may be very combustible, without,, how- ~ ver, disengaging as much caloric as the Other combustible bodies

nown, andwithout leaving a residuum, as the two latterzases; and,. in fine, we are of opinion, that, in some subjects, and°chiefly in . women, tlaere exists a particular diathesis, which, conjoined witk, the asthenia occasioned by age, a life of little activity, and the abus~ of spirituous liquors, may gwe rise to k spontaneous combusti0~. But we are f~t- fl'om considering as the material cause of this cotn- bustion, either alcohol, or hydrogen, or a superabundance of fat. I f alcohol plays a prominent part in this combustion, it' is by co~-~tribut- ing to its production; that is to say, it produces, along with t h e other causes mentioned, the degeneration of which we have spokeTl~ whic!~ gives r!se.to new products of a highly combustible nature, t h e reacuon ot which determines the combustion of the body.

It is to be regretted, that the observations hitherto published, a r e not more complete. We pr'apose to ourselves t0 collect all that m a y tend to throw tio~ht upon a subject so i,uoortant in anthro ol ~ a n d mea~ca~ jurisprudence. " -

3 ~ . . . . .

?

X oc o , ratu , ¥ P,md zxhaaa0 ,. A GOMZ~ITTEE have been engaged in France, in examining the cir-

cumstances relative to the kna-eker's operations. His business con. sists in killing old worn-out horses, and turning every part of thor body to account. The most singular results which the committee have o~ained, relate to tile innocuous nature of the exhalations, arising from the putrefying matter~ every body examined, agreed that tfiey were ofl'ensive and disgusting, but no one that they Were unwholesome; on the contrary, they appeared to conduce to ]lealth. All the men, women, and ehildren,-concerned in the works of this kind, had unvarying health, and were remarkably well in appear- ance, and strong in body. The workmen commonly attained -an old age, and were, generally, free f,'om the usual infirmities which ac- company it. Sixty, seventy, and even eighty, were common ages. Persons who live close to the places, or go there daily, share these advantages with the workmen. During the time that an epidemic fever was in full force at two neighbouring places, not one of the workmen in the establishment at Montfaucon was affected by it. It did not appear that it was only the men who were habituated to the works that were thus favoured i fl)r when, fi'om press of business, new workmen were~taken on, they did not suffer in health, from the exhalations.

In confirmation of the above observations, similar cases are quoted: above ~00 exhumations are made yearly at Paris, about three or four months after death; not a single case of injury to the workmen has been observed. M. Labarraque has observed, that the catgut makers, who live in a continually putrid atmosphere, arising from macerating intestines, enjoy remarkable health. Similar ch'eum- stances were remarked, at the exhumations of the Cimetigre des Inn,)cens.

Whatever disease the horse may have died of, or been killed for, the workmen have no fear, adopt no precautions, and run no risk. Sometimes, when strangers are present, they pretend to be careful, but, upon close inquiry, laugh at such notions. They handle dis- eased as well as healthy parts, always with impunity, Tlmy fre- quently cut themselves, but the wounds heal wi th : the greatest facility, and their best remedy is, to put a slice of the flesh about the wound,

On making inquiry of those to whom the horse-skins were .~ent, and who, besides having to handle them when very putrescent, were more exposed to effects from diseases in the skin, t my learnt that these men, also, from experience, had no fear, and never suffered injury. Horse-skins never occasioned injury to those who worked them, but in this they differed fi'om the skins of oxen, cows, and especially sheep, which sometimes did occasion injury, though not so often as usually supposed. [Recueil lmhdtriel~ v. 55.