Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1855-07-26
ORIGIN AL E S SAY.
For the Port Tobacco Times.
is SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION OF THE
HUMAN BODY POSSIBLE?
REPLY TO BEN ALLEN.

HUMAN BODY PosslBLE'
REPLY TO BEN ALLEN.
Mr.. EDITOR: A gres, deal might easily
be written in reply 10 Ben Aliens last pro-
duc.ion, but really think my cause poss-
esses ingredients of strength making such
course unnecessary. So many points have
been presented, that, if discussed, would
lead me off from the subject proper.
The burden Of proof rests upon Ben Al
len. II is not at ell incumben, upon me to
step bey ond the limits Of his argument. If
| can sh ow the unreasobablenesso of The the
ores offered, or the premises on which they
are based; or if reasonable doubts cen be
cast upon them, it will place the subject
precisely where it was before the discussion
commenced. If i. can be demonstrated ,ha,
The theories on which The possibility Of
spon,ane Gus combustion rests are impossi.
bic, il is eviden. that the tease is directly
met" !, remains 10 be seen whether this
can be done.
have endeavored to show in previous
srticIe that phosphureled hydrogen in the
blood would be incompatible with, or, 81,
leas, highly injurious TO animal life; also,
that il could not exist in the living body,
because a union Of this gas with a,mospher-
ic air in The lungs would cause an explosion.
!. was also stated ,ha. these propositions
would no. be .con,rover,ed; but i, seems
they have been, and am challenged to pro-
duce proof. ! will refer first 10 authority
recommended and used as q text! book in the
Mary land University, Pennsylvania Univer-
si,y. Jefferson College, and the University
of Virginis,-I mean Turner'S Chemistry.
On The 269lh page, the frs. line reads: "Il
(phosphure.ed hydroeen) isa non-suppor.-
er Of combustion, and is very destructive TO
animal lfe." A few lines below will be
found, "Csre is necessary in the formation
Of This gas, lest, in mixing with the air Of
the apparatus, an explosion ensue, and the
vessel burs,.' In "Liebig's Letters on
Chemistry" page 295, appear the follow.
ing "The formation and presence Of phos-
pbureled hydrogen in The human body ere
cer,sinly false; no observation whatever
speaks 10 favor OF its formation there. This
gas, again, is in the highest degree poisonous,
as much so as 0yscnic.' Liebig ranks a.
mong The frs. Che mis.s in Europe.
The electrical theory was originally Of
fered by S,rubeI in his work, 'The sponts.
neous combustion Of The human body with
especial reference to its medico-legal signi-
6csnce." Liebig's reply is as foIlows:-
"Tbis theory ls pattern of its kind. It's
author has not the remotes. conception OF
The laws of the production and accumula-
lion Of electricity, Of the conditions and for
nation Of The spark, Of the decomposition OF
water by electricity. Itis sufficient here TO
observe, ,ha. when electricity decomposes
water, no spark ensues; and when spark
igni,es the gasses, waller is formed, and not
decompcsed into its elements. But, assum-
ing every thing 10 happen as he imsgines,
,ha. wafer is decomposed, and that the ele-
menls, by The decomposing agent, are again
converted into water, the body by the kind
ling Of the gaseous mixtures, in less than q
second, would burs! into thousands OF lrag-
menls, like mortar filled with gunpowder;
and yet i. would not burn, in spite Of the
high temperature, because the whole ol the
oxygen is at once siezed BY the hydrogen
and no free oxygen remains for the combus
ton Of the body" Oxygen and hydrogen
when produced by the electrical decompo
. si,ion Of water, form the so-cslled explosive
, gas, distinguished by the properly Of explo
. ding with violent report when kindled.-
|, A hollow ball of small size, made Of sucl
combus.ble ma.srial as paper. and 6Ile'
with This gaseous mixture, explodes, wheI
kinded by an electric spark, with repor
as loud as that Of cannon; but The pspe
does not take fire nor burn. All these dill
ficuliies however are overcome, aIl incon
ss,encies reconciled, and spontaneous com
bus,ion Of the human body explained in
D lucid, comprehensive, "besu,ilul and salts
e factory" manner by saying sit appears ne
=, cessary lha. a peculiar and unerplaine
e state Of system should exist" Truly ihI
o is a convenient way Of elucdating knott
D case, and its logic is as clear TO my mind q
!, mud.
Although living smid The light and ad
I van,ages Of ,his advanced sge of scienufi
f developments, still think Ben Aliens .w
y theories weaken each other. Whether the
i do so however or not, presume the ten
. lig h,ened nineteenth century" will con'nu
a TO roll on lis eveniful course, not material
!. affected by spontaneous combustion, Be
r Allen, or myself. J. must be granted tina
!, spontaneous combustion of The animal bod
J, is mol ''a fixed and determined chemics
y law" Even those persons disposed 10 &C
= cept i, ss such cannot give a sslsfsctor
n reason for il, and, endeavoring TO do so, in
+ volve The suhjec. in mysteries aud unce'
: ,an,ies. Ben Allen, however, promises
e dispel all doubts upon the subjec. IN
s 'sbesu u,ifnl and satisfactory" manner. Will
,. expectation is on ,ip-.oe, the phosphure'e
= hydrogen theory is offered. II j. be sa'i'
factory, surely nothing more is neeesssr,