The Litchfield County post. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1826-1829, 1826-11-21


Perhaps there are few people whe are
acquainted with the fact, that ashes made
by burning hard wood, such as oak, maple,
walnut, &c. in a Fireplace and taken up
dry, are capable of producing spontaneous
combustion, simply by receiving degree
Of moisture, or by coming inacontact with
wet board or Stave, or being exposed to
a very damp ATMOSPHERIC, 1t is generally
believed that when fire is kindled by ashes,
that il is caused by coal being put away
with ashes while on fire but this is a mis-
take. The Goals, if they were on fire.
when buried in ashes and not exposed to at
mospheric air, would soon be extingoished,
or il they were not, they could not kindle
fire when the airswas excluded. The
spontaneous combustion CLASHES proceeds
from very different principle.
Hard wood ashes when FIRST. made. and
while they are kept dry, contains metal
called potassium, which is the basis Of pot
ash. This metal is very combustible, and
has so strong an affinity or attractionfor ok
ygen. the supporter and cause of combus-
ton, that it takes the oxygen from water
the moment it touches it, and burns with a
vivid flame and the product of this COM
bustion is potash, that is, potash is potassi-
um saturated withsoxygen, or what may be
called the oxyde Of potassium. II should
be noticed too, that water is q compound
ofoxygen and hydrogen, and that when the
potassium comes in contact with water, it
takes the oxygen from it, aud the hydrogen
being set free, increases the combustion.
The simple explanation then is this; dry
ashes when first burnt, contain in them
metallic substance which is highly enflam-
mabic, and which is set on FIRE by moisture.
Quick lime and water produce heat suffi-
cient in some instances to set wood on fire,
but ashes and water produce much more
intense heat. In adding water to lime,
much heat is evolved, but no real combus-
ton is produced, but in adding water to
ashes there is real combustion Of the me-
tai contained in the ashes; the metal being
a combustible substance, requiring nothing
but the oxygen Of tho water to set it on
fire. a eFf.
NUrRIc1oUs MATTER. report on this
subject, presented to the French minister
Of the interior, by Messrs. Percy and Van
qualin, members Of the institute, has been
published. Tho result of their inquiries
is as follows I'm bread every 100 lbs.
weight are found to contain 80 lbs. of nu-
tricious matter: butchers meat, averaging
the various sorts, Is Ii. in 100 h.; French
beans, 90 ID: to 100 ID. broad beans, 80
10. to 100 ID. +; peas 90 lb. to 100 Id. /;
lcntiles "a ID. to 100 lb.; green's and tur-
nips. which are the most aqueous of our
vegetables used for domestic purposes, fur
nish only 5 lb. of solid nutritious substance
in 100 h.; carrots Ii lb. to 100 h.; and
what is very remarkable as being in oppo-
sition to she hitherto acknowledged theory,
100 pounds Of potatoes yield only 25 lbs, of
substance; lib. of good bread is equal to
IL or ID. best potatoes and rs Id. of
meat is equal to 500 Id. of potatoes; or to
go into detail. 3-4 lb. of bread and 5 oun-
ces meat, are equal to ID. Of cabbage and
8 ID. hlrnips but lb. Of rice, broad
beans, or French beans, in grain, is equal
to 3 Id. of potatoes.
An AnacondG-A serpent of this curious
species, Of which so many extravagant sto-
RES have been published, has beenimport-
ed into this country within. few days, and
is publicly. exhibited at Mr.. p cells Museum
in Broadway, where it cannot fail to attract
attention. 1t is native Of the Island of Ja-
pan; & was brought away when quite small,
in company with another, which unfortu-
nately died on the passage. 1t has now
grown TO the length of about thirteen feet,
and measures 8 or 10 inches round the body
Its teeth are sharp and numerous, but it is
not in the least venomous, killing its prey
by crushing itin his folds. The vertchrae Of
the back bone are capable of extensions
and contraction, by which means sefpenfs
Of this species when offallsize, easily break
the bones Of large animals. When they
have killed their prey they swallow !,
whole, even If L be Of the size of deer
They then remain in a torpid state for sew.
eYal hours. ~ =, la.f..e ". Y. Paper.
The following is an extract from :
speech of Mr.. Reed. senator of the United
States from the state Of Mississippi, at
public dinner given to him by the citizen.
of Fayette.. qEe4 ~ ss@. -
was not sent to the Senate to make
one President or unuaake another and If ]
had attempted such thing, l should navs
spoken without authority from my const.t.
uents, and usurped their rights. In fine, i
is well known that Mr.. Adams was no