Letter To Mons Dubourg 28 July 1768 On The Free Use Of Air From Memoirs Of The Life And Writings Of Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin writes from London to Monsieur Dubourg in reply to the latter's remarks about a new method of treating smallpox. Franklin does not like the cold water bath which was then in vogue. He describes instead his own practice of sitting naked in his room every morning for 30-60 minutes after awakening in order to "bathe" in the cold air. Of this air bath, Franklin writes that "at least it does not injure my health, if it does not in fact contribute much to its preservation."

Benjamin Franklin uses a reference to persons killed by lightning as a springboard to speculate about "the doctrines of life and death, in general." He writes about toads remaining buried alive in sand "till the sand becomes petrified," and relates having seen apparently lifeless flies revived after having been transported across the Atlantic in a bottle of wine. Franklin then concludes "I wish it were possible, from this instance, to invent a method of enbalming drowned persons, in such a manner that they might be recalled to life at any period, however distant; for, having a very ardent desire to see and observe the state of America an hundred years hence, I should prefer to an ordinary death, the being immersed in a cask of Madeira wine, with a few friends, till that time, to be recalled to life by the solar warmth of my dear country!"

Benjamin Franklin writes from London to Mr. Winthorp about a series of astronomical instruments the latter had ordered made for himself. Various delays in the manufacture and delivery are explained. Franklin then summarizes some recent information about lightning and lightning rods that had come to his attention. He also describes coming across a small sealed glass tube with water inside that produced bubbles when warmed by the hand.