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The Unconscious Incendiary


Let a person stand upon a stool made of baked wood, or upon a cake of

wax, and hold a chain which communicates with the branch. On turning

the wheel he will become electrified; his whole body forming part of

the prime conductor; and he will emit sparks whenever he is touched by

a person standing on the floor.



If the electrified person put his finger, or a rod of iron, into a

dish containing warm spirits of wine, it will be immediately in a

blaze; and if there be a wick or thread in the spirit, that

communicates with a train of gunpowder, he may be made to blow up a

magazine, or set a city on fire, with a piece of cold iron, and at the

same time be ignorant of the mischief he is doing.



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