Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1836-02-02

vertisar the following remarkable account
Of an experiment on drunkard, performed
hy medical student at South Berwick.
The fact which it describes is remarkable
ono, ana is apparently well authenuca:cd'
1t is worthy the attention ofthe physlologist'
and must strike terror to the drunkard, If nc
is susceptible of any feeling. Landmark j
IGNITION OF HUMAN BLOOD. We observe
in the Morning Star, an interesting expert
nent which was performed by Jacob I.
Hanson, n medical student ofSouth Berwick,
Me-, on the blood of q common drunkard,
who was a resident of that village in August
las.. The circumstances were briefly these.
Mr.. Hanson had some time previous to his
irving the experiment, read in some of the
physiological authors that on the dissection
uf the cercbrine of dcfunct drunkard, 4
fluid was discovered in its frontal sinus,
which on being extracted and ignited by the
anatomst, burned with bhe flame. From
tbs circumstance, Mr.. II. was induced to
draw the conclusion. ina duril 6 a protrncted
fit ofintoxication, the blood must be strongly
imprcgnatcd with alcohol, and a favorable
opportunity soon occurred for testing the
truth Of his conjecture. An habitual and
confirmed drunkard, came staggering into
the office of the physician with whom MIR.
II. was student. This object of pity and
disgust was inhaling an oder more resem-
bling alcohol than the breath of a human
being. His eye was inflamed and flushed,
and his whole system had been saturated
with rum for fortnight without cessation;
during the time he had taken little food but
had swallowed teo gallons Of Rum, in the
course of the previous five days. Mr.. II.
remarked that there was some danger of his
pefishing by spontaneous combustion, and
observed to him that he might derive consl-
derablc benefit from being bled, giving it us
his opinion that the blood was much cIlcunf-
bered with alcohol, and that he could ignite
it, or in the words which he used to the
arnnkard, " set it on fire.
This last remark was followed BY re-
quest from the drunkard that he should be
bied, which was performed without delay.
From the odor which was perceptible to all
present the Inoment the fluid followed the
lancet, it was evident that it consisted Of a
mixture Of blood and alcohol. This was
fully confirmed by the experiment which fol-
lowed. 4 pint bowl filled with this fluid was
handed to one of the spectators who lighted
match and bringing 1t incontact with the
contents of the bowl, confagration immc.
diately cnsucd: burning with blue fame
for the space of twenty five or thirty seconds.
Mr.. II. concludes his accoun; of this curious
and interesting experiment in the following
words -
The above experiment which resulted in
a phenomenon thus brilliant, and which | had
never noticed either by observation or in
authors, was not only witnessed by myself,
and the subject of it who sat mute, astound.
cd and in breathless silence, but by several
respectable gcntlcmen,together with worthy
and respected physician, my tutor, who were
present and who in the subjoincd certificate
vouch for the authenticity Of the fact now
submit to the public.
JACOB C. HANSON.
TO THE PUBLIC.
We the undersigned, residents Of South
Berwick, Me-, do hereby certify that we were
present and Witnessed the experiment above
described.
CHARLEE TRAFroN,
Jons G. WEBSTER,
JOHN kENNARD.
We cannot conclude our notice Of this
singular phenomenon without urging on the
votarics of intcmperance serious conside-
ration of the truth which, it developes. Can
We wonder tha, while liquid fire is thus
traSersing the whole system, and scorchmg
the finest tissues of the human frane-that
delicate sensibility should be lost? With q
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. ltwoud
be strange indeed if the fires which thus
shoulder in the system, sheuld never sting
the miserable sufferer into deeds of the dark
est dye, and urge him forward in the mad
ching course of debauchery and blasphemy.
We trust that this experiment will have the
effect Of waking up the philanthropist, and
urging on the friends of temperance to wage
an unccasing warfare with this overpowering
and desolating evil until the I" blue flame"
which has risen from the blood of a fellow
being, light the rcpentant drunkard back to
the path Of temperance, and serve as bea.
con light to those who would avoid the hor-
riblc life and miserable end Of the confirmed
drunkard.
From the Temperance Recorder.
THE DRUNKARD's PRoGRRss-AFACr.
T. S-!vas the son Of respectable
parents. His father dying while he was