A BREATH OF FIRE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3661, 9 April 1883, Page 4

A BREATH OF FIRE.

Dr. L. C. AVoodman, of Paw Paw, Mich., contributes the Wowing interesting though incredible observation : I have a singular phenomenon iv the shape of a young man ]i.\ing here, that I have studied A\ith much interest, and I am satisfied that his pecu l: ar power demonstrates that electricity is the neire force beyond d ; spute. His nameis AVm. Underwood, aged 2 7 years, and his gift is that of geiieratingfirethrorgh the mecHum of Ipsbreath, assisted by manipulations with his hands. He -will take anybody's handkerchief, and hold it to his mouth, rub it vigorously with his hands while breathing on it, and'immediately it bursts into flames and burns until consumed. He will strip, and rinse out his mouth thoroughly, wash his bauds, and submit to the most rigid examination to preclude the possibility of any humbug, and then by his breath blow .1 upon auy paper or cloth, envelop it in flame. He a\ i'l, when out gunning unci without matches, desirous of afire, lie down after collecting dryleaves, and by breathing on them start the fire and then coolly take off his wet stockings and city them. It is impossible to persuade him to"do it more than tw ice in a day, and the effort i.s attendant with the most extreme exhaustion. Ho will .sink into a eli;iir after doing it, and on one occasion, after he had a newspaper on fire as narrated, I placed my handon his head and discovered his scalp to be violently twitching as if under intense excitement. He will do it any time, no matter wheivhc is, under any circumstances, and I have repeatedly known of his sitting back from the d ; nuer table, taking a swallow of water, and by blowing on his napkin, sit once set it on fire. Hois ignorant, and says Hinthe first discovered his strange power by inhaling and exhaling on a peiftuned handkerchief "that suddenly burned avliPo in his hands. It is certainly no humbug, butAvhat is it ? Does physiology give a like instance, and if so, yvherc 'r—Michigan Medical News.