Various theories have been proposed for the explanation of this singular phenomenon; and we may here observe, that if the bodies in question were actually found consumed, in the manner described, it is quite impossible to suppose that they were burnt by ordinary means; nor, even admitting that they had been rubbed over with a highly combustible substance, is the explanation less difficult; at a period when criminals were condemned to expiate their crimes in the flames, it is well known what a large quantity of combustible materials was required for burning their bodies. A baker’s boy, named _Renaud_, being several years ago condemned to be burnt at Caen, two large cart loads of faggots were required to consume the body; and at the end of more than ten hours some remains were still visible. In this country the extreme incombustibility of the human body was exemplified in the case of Mrs. King, who having been murdered by a Foreigner, was afterwards burnt by him; but in the execution of this plan he was engaged for several weeks, and after all did not succeed in its completion. 2. RAPE. RAPE is the unlawful and carnal knowledge of a woman by force and against her will: a ravishment of the body and violent deflowering her, which is felony by the common and statute law. _Co. Litt._ 190, 124.[610] Formerly it was the law (especially in case of appeals of rape) in order to prevent malicious accusations, that the woman should immediately after, “_dum recens fuerit maleficium_,” go to the next town, and there make discovery to some credible persons of the injury she had received: and afterwards acquaint the high constable of the hundred, the coroners and the sheriff with the outrage. _Glanv. l._ 14. _c._ 6: _Bract. l._ 3. _c._ 28. 1 _Hales P. C._ 632. Afterwards by statute _Westm._ 1. 3. _Ed._ 1. _c._ 13. the time of limitation was extended to forty days. At present there is no time of limitation fixed, for it is punished at the suit of the king, and the maxim of law takes place, that, _nullum tempus occurrit Regi_. The appeal of Rape (for there were formerly several appeals beside that of murder) has been long obsolete; see _Jac. Law Dic. tit. Appeal_, and is now abolished by the statute 59 _Geo._ 3, _c._ 46:[611]. But though there is no time limited, a jury will seldom give credit to a stale complaint. In Scotland it is said the limit was twenty-four hours; the King against Colonel _Charteris, Maclaurin’s Crim. Cases, p._ 66. 69. And in a medical point of view it is yet more necessary that examination should be immediate, many collateral proofs might be observed on an early enquiry, all signs of which would be obliterated in a few hours.[612] This remark applies as well to the supposed criminal as to the sufferer; both should in all possible cases be subjected to immediate surgical examination; the case related by Sir _Matthew Hale_, (_P.C._) furnishes an instance where an