An experiment to ascertain the degree of heat it is possible for a man
to bear, was made a few days ago at the New Tivoli, at Paris, in the
presence of a company of about 200 persons. The man on whom this
experiment was made is a Spaniard of Andalusia, named Martenez, aged 43.
A cylindrical oven, constructed in the shape of a dome, had been heated
for four hours, by a very powerful fire. At ten minutes past eight, the
Spaniard, having on large pantaloons of red flannel, a thick cloak also
of flannel, and a large felt, after the fashion of straw hats, went into
the oven, where he remained, seated on a foot-stool, during fourteen
minutes, exposed to a heat of from 45 to 50 degrees, of a metallic
thermometer, the gradation of which did not go higher than 50. He sang a
Spanish song while a fowl was roasted by his side. At his coming out of
the oven, the physicians found that his pulse beat 134 pulsations a
minute, though it was but 72 at his going in, The oven being healed anew
for a second experiment, the Spaniard re-entered and seated himself in
the same attitude; at three quarters past eight, ate the fowl, and drank
a bottle of wine to the health of the spectators. At coming out his
pulse was 176, and the thermometer indicated a heat of 110 degrees of
Reaumur. Finally, for the third and last experiment, which almost
immediately followed the second, he was stretched on a plank, surrounded
with lighted candles, and thus put into the oven, the mouth of which was
closed this time. He was there nearly five minutes, when all the
spectators cried out, "Enough, enough," and anxiously hastened to take
him out. A noxious and suffocating vapour of tallow filled the inside of
the oven, and all the candles were extinguished and melted. The
Spaniard, whose pulse was 200 at coming out of this gulf of heat,
immediately threw himself into a cold bath, and in two or three minutes
after was on his feet safe and sound.