The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser., 1826-08-24

flames of volatile spirits in state OF ignition,
or rather of conhagrasion. Those who have
performed the exhibition Of swallowing mol
ten lead, and of rubbing their skins with red
hotsirons, have producedsthe appearance OF
the first trick by legerdemain shifting OF
the metal, whilst the latter has been effect
ed by indurating the skin, BY continual
application Of vegetable and mineral acids
to the cuticle, from almost infancy. The
principle of animals bearing heat is obvious
as long as the air is not too attenuated by
the caloric for the action of the lungs, and as
long as the skin can carry on the process OF
perspiration, heat can be endured, until the
gradual exhaustion of the whole system pro-
duces lassitude and syncope. The point OF
the thermometer at which these effects are
produced upon the human economy ha~ been
pretty well ascertained. 1t is not many
years ago, that Sir Gilbert Blame, and ano-
ther eminent physician, were induced, by
love of science, to try an experiment very
similar to that which Monsieur Chabert has
exhibited from different motives. These
gentlemen went into a heated oven, and con-
tinued in it until the perspiration from How
ing in extremes, began to be diminished.
We do not recollect the extreme heat OF the
furnace, but it was So intense that meat APP
piled to its walls became baked, and the sur
face of a beef steak was corrugated merely
BY an exposure to the atmosphere of the ov-
ell. However, leaving the dignity OF science
tor Monsieur Chabert's more popular exhi-,
biton, we must give the public an account
of the entertainment he provided for them
at White Conduit House. About three hun
tlred persons had assembled in the gardens
to witness the performance, and among the
company, were several elegant females, and
the whole meeting was conducted with the
utmost propriety and decorum. Mons Cha
bert's first performance was the swallowing
of quantity Of phosphorus, which we need
not inform our readers, is one of the most
violent Of poisons. Happening to stand near
the exhibitors table, he invited us to weigh
out the phosphorus, and to taste the hure 7ca-
ter with which he washed down the aconite.
We accordingly administered to the gcntle4
| man dose of sixty-four grains; enough, we
imagine, to have proved quietus to even
Chuny himself, We observed, however,
that the hure zvater was strongly impregna
ted with an alkai (sotla) and we need scarce
ly observe, that any of the fixed alkaes
would have the effect of neutralizing the
phosphorus, and destroying its perncous
qualtiesin the stomach There was a similar
q
!, mic, some CT which was fused over charcoal,
to convince the by ISLANDERS, by the smell,
that it was the real poison. To us, howev
er, it appeared that it was merely metallic
arsenic, the swallowing of which might be
done with impunity-at least however, to the
extent that Monsieur Chabert. received it
into his stomach. We thought this part Of
the exhibition rather offensive and silly: for
! nh, .,f,,,c hot he nnl pf he f,po re
professed to be poison, was submitted to no
fair test; and there were several links def
cicnt IN the chain Of reasoning, necessary to
convince an intelligent person that the pro-
fesscd feat was really performed. An OF
lthis was, therefore, void of amusement; but
it was different with the pyrotechnic exhi-
bition. Mons. Chabert first poured nitric
acid upon metalc,f ling s, mixed give suppose
with sulphur, to form pyrites; these he suf
tered fairly to ignite in the palm of his hand
and retained the burning mass some time
although small quantity ignited in our hant
quickly made us glad TO plunge it into water
Mons. Chabert then deliberately rubbed
hot shovel over his skin, through his hair
and finally upon the tongue. This was fair
ly done. The next feat was that of swallow
ing boiling oil. We tried the thermomete
in the oil, and found that it rose to $40 dc
grees. M. Chsbert swallowed few table
spoonsful of this burning liquid, which per
haps might have cooled to about 500 degrees
between the taking the oil from the sauce
pan and the putting it into his mouth
gentleman in the company then came for
ward, and dropping lighted sealing wax up
on Mons. Chahert's tongue, took the impress
sion of his seal. This, we suppose, Is wha
is called sealing a mans mouth. But no,
came the grand and terrific exhbition--th
entering the oven-for which, expectatio
was excited to the highest pitch. We ha
the curiosity to apply the unerring test of tn
thermometer to the inside Of the oven, an
found the maximum of heat to be 220 de
grees. Mr. Chabert being dressed in
loose, black linen robe, rendered, he assure
us, as hreproof- as asbestos, by chcmca
solution, entered the oven amidst the ap
plause of the spectators. He continued lik
a modern Shadrac in the fiery furnace; an
after suspense of about twelve minutes, q
gain appeared to the anxious spectators, tr
umphantly bearing the beef steak fully Dire.
E sed, which he had taken into the oven wit
him raw. Nj. Chabert also exhibited tn
!. thermometer, which he had taken into til
oven with him at 60 degrees, and which VIZ
% now up to $50 degrees. We need not sa
It that the bulb had been Kept in the burnin
= embers, Of which It bore palpable sign
r This was a mere trick, unworthy OF the e,
hibition: for Mons. Chabert really bore ii
= oven heated to 22o degrees, for full twent
minutes. Whether we were emulous