A CAUTION TO SMOKERS.

Hot Lakes Chronicle, Volume 2, Issue 119, 20 March 1895, Page 4

A CAUTION TO SMOKERS.

The ' British Medical Journal' tells | the following story for the benefit of all who carry safety matches in their pockets. <! A gentleman was ordered some ordinary chlorate of potash lozenges for a sore tongue, and fo convenience he kept them loose in hir waistcaot pocket, as scores of othes people have done before. Now, ar ill-luck would have it, this gentleman also bought a box of Swedish safety matches, and these he also put into the same pocket. A moment's consideration of what a safety match is tells ua at once tho whole catastrophe. To prevent matches going off of themselves the makers separate th e ingredients, putting the phosphorous on the bos and the chlorate of potash on the matches. While bendiog down to pick up something on tbe floor the lozenges rubbed against the friction paper on the outside of tV.e box. This set the entire box alight, and the heat kindled all the matches in the box. The heat generated decomposed tho chlorate lozenges, and the oxygen set free intensified the combustion tenfold. Tho result was that tho gentleman was instantly in flames, the combustion being of explosive violence. Had not a pail of water been thrown over him instantly the result must have been fatal, as the combustion was inconceivably violent, lie was frightfully burned as it was but fortunately he has escaped without permanent disfigurement. Considering how often smokers have sore throats and take lozenges for their cure, tho v. T onder is that this has not happened before. But might not the chemists give some sort ot' warning that these chlorate of potash lozenges should in no case be carried loose ?