Drawn from the authoritative 'Young Mans Book of Amusement'
(published in 1854 and within its 384 pages are curious gems of Victorian Science. Its
unpromising, mildly suggestive title belies a veritable cornucopia of
experiments)...
To recover a fly after being drowned several hours;
"A
fly being drowned in water, wine, ale or beer, and so thoroughly dead, being
laid overhead in chalk crushed very fine, or warm ashes (but they must not
be burning or very hot,) will recover, and live again."
An
experiment which may have warranted the attention of Mr. Edward Gorey. It must
be emphatically stated that this procedure does not work on small children or
other mammals. nor bring back the very long deceased for intensive questioning
with regard to an 'after-life.' It may however give some inkling to the
possibility of resurrection, although not to the source of such 'higher powers'
which possess the knowledge and practice to restore life. Life and death are
very interesting states. However I firmly believe that there are some things
which should remain clearly in a state of repose and never mentioned again, and
yet again others which demand a second chance in some form or another. Actually
I came across this gem whilst researching Jacob Perkins 'steam-powered machine
gun' of 1824.
All Rights Reserved / Copyright: David John Drew 2013
