A BREATH OF FIRE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1144, 4 September 1883, Page 3

A BREATH OF FIRE.

Dr. L. C, Woodman, of Paw Paw, Mich., contributes the following interesting though incredible observation 1 have a singular phenomenon in the shape of a young man living here that I have studied with much interest, and am satisfied that his peculia r power demonstrates that electricity is the nerve force beyond dispute. His name is Win. Underwood, aged 27 years, and his gift is that of generating fire through the medium of bis breath, 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 buist# into flames and burns until consumed. He will strip and rinse out bis mouth thoroughly, wash his hands, and submit to the most rigid examination to preclude the possibility of any humbug, and then by breathing upon any paoer or cloth, envelop it in flames. He will, when out gunning, and without matches, if desirous of a fire, He down after collecting dry leaves, and by breathing on them start the fire and then coolly take off his wet stockings and dry them. It is impossible to persuade him do it more than twice in a day, and the efforts is attended with extreme exhaustion. He will sink in a chair after,doing it, and on one occasion, after he had a newspaper on fire as narrated, I placed my hand on Irs head and discovered his scalp to be violently twitching as if under great excitement. He will do it at any time, no matter where he is, under any circumstances, and I have repeatedly known of his sitting back from the dinner table, taking a swallow of water, and by blowing on his napkin, at once set it on fire. H« is ignorant, and says that i ie first discovered his strange power by inhaling and exhaling on a pert'um d handkerchief that suddenly burned while in his hands. It is certainly no humbug, but what is it? Does physiology give a like instance and if so, where ?—Michigan Medical News.