The burning truth about spontaneous human combustion
Historical record - The first time it was reported was in 1470, when an Italian knight named Polonus Vorstius was said to have spontaneously combusted, according to records.
Medieval knight history -
However, it was not officially documented until Danish doctor Thomas Bartholin included it in his book Historiarum Anatomicarum Rariorum, almost 200 years later.
Italian noble -
In 1731, an incident occurred involving an Italian countess who was identified as a victim of SHC. Additional incidents followed, like that of an Englishman in 1744.
Alcohol within concoction -
Alcohol consumption was the shared factor in all cases, prompting the scientific community to delve deeper into it.
'Bleak House' -
Charles Dickens' novel 'Bleak House' featured a case of spontaneous human combustion in its story, reinforcing the 19th-century public's belief in this phenomenon.
Analysis -
George Lewes, a philosopher and literature critic, expressed his dissatisfaction with 'Bleak House' in a newspaper, stating that it endorsed a scientifically impossible notion.
Mary Reeser -
In 1951, Mary Reeser, a 67-year-old widow, reportedly died from SHC in her St. Petersburg, Florida, apartment.
Media focus -
The case garnered media attention due to the absence of evidence, creating an air of mystery.
FBI -
The FBI discovered that Mary Reeser's death was not caused by SHC, but only years later.
Jack Angel " -
In 1974, Jack Angel, a traveling salesman, said he spontaneously combusted.
Survivor -
He stated that he discovered burns on his hand, chest, legs, and various other parts upon awakening.
Michael Faherty- In 2010, a 76-year-old man named Michael Faherty tragically died in a fire at his residence in Ireland. This incident resembled previous alleged cases of spontaneous human combustion.
Confirmed modern case of SHC -
Dr. Ciaran McLoughlin determined that Michael Faherty’s death was caused by SHC.
The details -
To cremate a human body, a temperature of around 1400 to 1800°F (760 to 982°C) is necessary.
How does cremation turn bodies into ash? - In instances of SHC, bodies are typically transformed into ash, with the exception of the hands and feet, which are often discovered undamaged.