Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1836-02-04
From the Bangor tMaine, Advertiser.

| in the Morning Star, an interesting expe
riment which was performed by Jacob G
| Hanson, a medical student of South Der,
wick, Me-, on the blood Of a common
| drunkard, who was a resident ofthat vii.
age, in August last. The circumstances
were briefly these. Mr.. Hanson had
some time previous to his trying the expe-
riment, read in some of the physiological
authors, that on the dissection Of The CO.
rebrum OF defunct drunkard, fluid was
discovered in its frontal sinus, which, on
being extracted and ignited by the anato-
mist, burned with blue flame. From
this circumstance Mr.. II, was induced to
draw The conclusion, that curing pro-
tracted fit of intoxication, the blood must
be strongly impregnated with alcohol, and
favorable opportunity soon occurred for
testing the truth of bis conjecture, A ha-
bitual and confirmed drunkard came stag
gerlng into the office of the physician with
whom Mr. H. was student. The object
Of pity and disgust was expiring an odour
more resembling alchohol than the breath
of a human being. His eye was lnfiamed
and flashed. and his whole system had
been saturated with rum for fortnight
without cessation; during this time be had
taken little food, but had swallowed tlgo
gallons Of Rum, in the course Of the pre-.
vious five days Mr. II. remarked that
there was some danger oil his pershing by
spontaneous combustion, and observed to
him that be might derive considerable be-
neGt from being bled, giving il as his o
pinioD that the blood was much encum.
bered with alchohOl, and that he could
ignite it, or in The words which he used to
the drunkard, set il on fire.
The last remark was followed by re
quest from the drunkard that he should be
bled, which was performed without delay.
From the odor which was perceptlbe 20
all present the moment the fluid followed
the lancet, it was evident that II consisted
of a mixture of blood and alcohol. This
was fully confirmed by The experiment
which followed. A pint bowl filed with
this fluid was handed to one of the specta-
tors who gnited match and on bringing
i, in contact with the contents of the bowl,
a conflagration Immediately ensued: burn
ing with blue fame for the space of %
or so seconds Mr., FL. concludes bis &C.
count of this curious and interesting ex-
pertinent in the following words:
The above experiment which resulted
in phenomenon thus brilliant, and which
had never noticed eithel by observation
or in authors was not only witnessed by
myself, and the subject Of it who sat mute
ast0unded, and in nfeathless silence, but
by several respectable gentlemen, togeth-
er with worthy and respected physician,
nay tutor, who were present and who IN
the suhiolned certificate vouch for the au
thenticlty Of the fact now submit TO the
public. JACOB G. HANSON.
To the Public. We the undersigned,
residents Of South Berwick, Me. do here
by certify that we were present and wit
messed the experiment above described.
CHARLES TRAFTON,
JOHN G. EBSTER,
JOHN KENNARE.
We cannot conclude our notice of this
singular phenomenon without urging on
the votaries of intemperance a serious
consideration of the truth which it devel.
opes. Can we wonder that while liquid
fire is thus travcrsng the whole system,
aud scorchng the finest tissues Of the hu-
man frame that delicate sensihlllty should
be lost? With scorpion, like alcohol,
singing the brain and firing the whole
nervous system, need we be surprised
that the unfortunate victim Of this cursed
poison is frequently impelled to acts of
madness and desperation. 1t would be
strange indeed if the fires which thus
shoulder in the system should never sting
the miserable sufferer into deeds OF the
darkest dye. and urge him forward in the
maddeniDg course Of debauchery and bias
2heiny. We trust that this experiment
will have the effect of waking up the phi
lanthopist, and urging on the friends Of
temperance TO wage an unceasng warfare
with this oyerpowering and desolating e.
vii until the "blue flame" which has risen
from the blood of a fellow being. light the
repentant drunkard back 10 the paths of
temperance, and serve as beacon light
to those who would avoid the horrible life
and miserable end of the confirmed drunk
ard