It has also been affirmed by various medical observers, that the human body will occasionally secrete an inflammable matter emitted by perspiration. Thus, it is stated, that the perspiration of the wife of a physician of the Archbishop of Toledo was of such a combustible nature, that a ribbon which she had worn, being exposed to the air, took fire. Borelli relates the case of a peasant, whose linen would ignite in a similar manner, whether it was laid up in a chest or hung up to dry. Amongst the many curious stories of the kind, we quote De Castro, who affirms that he knew a physician, from whose back-bone fire issued so vividly as to dazzle the eyes of the beholders. Krautius informs us, that certain people of the territory of Nivers (?) were burning with an invisible fire, and that some of them lopped off a foot or a hand to cut off the conflagration! BRASSICA ERUCA, OR THE ROCKET PLANT. This plant, now in total disuse, was considered by the ancients as a most powerful aphrodisiac, and consecrated to Venus. Hence Martial and Ovid-- Et Venerem revocans eruca morantem. * * * * * Nec minus erucas jubeo vitare salaces. But the most curious document regarding this obnoxious weed is found in Lobel, who states that it was carefully cultivated in the gardens of monasteries and nunneries, to preserve their chastity. "Haec eruca, major Hispanica, vel quia in condimentis lautior, vel ad venerem vegetior erat, gentilis vulgo vocata fuit; quo vocabulo Hispanica et Itala gens designat quamlibet rem aptam reddere hominem laetum et experrectum ad munia vulgo pausibilia, ut joca ludicra et venerem; quae commoda ut ex ea perciperet monachorum saginata caterva, in perquam amoena Magalonae, insula maris Narbonensis, hujus gentilis erucae semine a fratre quodam Hispano ambulone donato, quotannis hocce serebat, et in mensis cuilibet, vel maximo gulae irritamento, vel blandimento, praeferebat; nimirum usu gnara quantum frequens esus conferret ad calorem venereum in illis otio et frequenti crapula obrutum, ad vigorem animi excitandum, et praesertim corpus obesum extenuandum, somnumque excutiendum, quo illi veluti ursi gliresve tota hyeme saginati, ferme adipe suffocabantur. Verum isto Hispanico remedio adeo hilarescebant et gentiles fiebant, ut plerumque recinctis lumbis castitate, coacti essent vota et coenobii moenia transilire, et aliquid solatii venerei ab vicinis plebanis efflagitare. Nobis haec visa et risa. Eruca vero inibi superstes est copiosissima, monumentum futura monasticae castitatis et rei veritatis."--_Adv. p. 68._ CAGLIOSTRO.