Spontaneous combustion--In the absorption of air by powdered charcoal--and of hydrogen by spongy platinum--Dobereiner’s lamp--Spontaneous combustion in the bowels of the earth--Burning cliffs--Burning soil--Combustion without flame--Spontaneous combustion of human beings--Countess Zangari--Grace Pett--Natural fire-temples of the Guebres--Spontaneous fires in the Caspian Sea--Springs of inflammable gas near Glasgow--Natural light-house of Maracaybo--New elastic fluids in their cavities--of gems--Chemical operation going on in their cavities--Explosions produced in them by heat--Remarkable changes of colour from chemical causes--Effects of the nitrous oxide of Paradise gas when breathed--Remarkable cases described--Conclusion. Among the wonderful phenomena which chemistry presents to us, there are few more remarkable than those of spontaneous combustion, in which bodies both animate and inanimate emit flames, and are sometimes entirely consumed by internal fire. One of the commonest experiments in chemistry is that of producing inflammation by mixing two fluids perfectly cold. Becker, we believe, was the first person who discovered that this singular effect was produced by mixing oil of vitriol with oil of turpentine. Borrichios showed that aqua-fortis produced the same effect as oil of vitriol. Tournefort proved that spirit of nitre and oil of sassafras took fire when mixed; and Homberg discovered that the same property was possessed by many volatile oils when mixed with spirit of nitre. Every person is familiar with the phenomena of heat and combustion produced by fermentation. Ricks of hay and stacks of corn have been frequently consumed by the heat generated during the fermentation produced from moisture; and gunpowder-magazines, barns, and paper-mills have been often burned by the fermentation of the materials which they contained. Galen informs us that the dung of a pigeon is sufficient to set fire to a house; and he assures us that he has often seen it take fire when it had become rotten. Casati likewise relates, on good authority, that the fire which consumed the great church of Pisa was occasioned by the dung of pigeons that had for centuries built their nests under its roof.