, 1868-07-28

CiC pOSOtti vi ltT uItSS uutli lIt neat DIS
felt, when suddenly she was in flames,
which extended to her throat and hair.
Her mother with great presence of mind
threw over her a bucket of water and eX-
tingul>hed the fire, but the marks of a
severe burn are borne to this day. An
other, having a match in his pocket, was,
for the benefit of exercise, saving wood,
when, by means of the friction which his
action occaSlOned, the match was ignited.
A Sulphurous smell announced to him
that something was wrong, and presently
an intense heat was felt about the ribs.
The cotton lining of his pocket was on
fire, which was communicated to another
inner garment of cotton, and he threw off
his clothing with a rapidity never, he
thinks, equaIed. The third stated that a
maid, on a cold and windy morning, had
moved the wash-baSin to a chair on the
hearth for the purpose Of washing him,
when suddenly, on the door being opened,
her dress, which was all of cotton, was
drawn into the fire, and Immediately she
was in flames. She ran over the house,
uttering the most piercing screams, when
at last she fell exhausted, her clothes
putHVh OIIS utIG HNt optJ 81 IuIul(u tIdL
she died in the greatest agony on the next
day. These eases, which are stated by
the most reliable gentleman, show from
what slight causes such accidents proceed.
The number who by presence of mind
save themselves from death is probably
much more numerous than are the victims
from such accidents.
The most frequent cases are those of
children, who, unaware of the danger,
expose themselves most fearleSsIy in cot
ton dresses to fire. But although we
have long been in the habit of noticing
these cases, we were not prepared, and
WE suppose that very few are prepared,
TO look without surprise on The vast num-
Der of deaths which occurred in 1860
less, probably, than the annual average
slnce-of this sudden and heart-rending
character.
The question arises, what is the RENE
dy for this danger7 We all know hat
wooden fabrics instead Of blazing when
set on fire only smoulder-that is,-burn
and smoke without flame or vent. Linen
articles of clothing, not excepting those
of the Iightest make, do not burn with
the violence of cotton, and constitute a
pleasant article for wear, except next 10
the skin, and much more durable ones
than cotton of like weight. 1t might,
perhaps, be safer in the long-run to wear
cotton rather than linen next 10 the skin,
Notwithstanding the great difference against
cotton on the score of inf ,mmabiIity, in
asmuch as the health of delicate persons
might suffer constantly from linen thus
worn; but all experience shows that
with WOODEN worn next to the skin, linen
over it is perfectly healthy and sufficient
lv safe on the score of fire.
The remedy, therefore, lies in the joint
use in the manner Indicated, of both wool
and linen, to the exclusion of cotton as
far as it can be done with convenience.
The lower first price of cotton fabrics
compared with that of linen constitutes a
recommendation in favor of cotton that
the bulk of mankind, living as it does
from hand to mouths. can hardly overlook,
although the greater strength and dura-
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