METHODS or obtaining hidbogen gas.

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However difficult it may be to give credit to such narratives,it is equally difficult to reject them entirely, without refusing toadmit the numerous testimonies of men, who were for the mostpart worthy of credit. Citizen Lair has collected all the cir-cumstances of this nature which he found dispersed in differentbooks and has rejected those which did not appear to be sup-ported by respectable testimony, to which he has added someothers related by persons still living. These narratives are ninein number, they were communicated to the philomatic society at-Paris, and inserted in the bulletin, Thermidor, An. 5 , No. 29.

The cause of this singular phenomenon has been attributed toa developement of hidrogen gas taking place in the stomachs ofthese individuals.

Citizen Lair believes that the bodies of these people were notburned perfectly spontaneously, but it appeared to be owing tosome very slight external cause, such as the fire of a candle,taper, or pipe.