Posted on 12/24/2017 9:18:45 PM PST by Rebelbase
The mid-19th century vogue for flowing, diaphanous women's garments made from open-weave fabrics like "bobbinet, cotton muslin, gauze, and tarlatan," combined with gas lighting, candles, and open fires meant that it was extremely common for women to literally burst into flames: on stage, at parties, at home.
So flammable were these garments that when other women would rush to the aid of a blazing friend, they, too, would go up in flames.
All of these women burned to death in front of their families or friends. None of them were doing anything particularly risky at the time except for wearing clothes around a source of light or a cigarette something men could do without the same risk. There is a burden on women to think about their bodies in space in a way that men dont have to, Matthews David says. The only fire I found for men really was a guy who left a lit pipe in his suit because woolen suits were pretty flameproof.
The problem was exacerbated by the fact that the flame-retardant compounds of the day would cause these flowing, white garments to stiffen and yellow, meaning that many women rejected them.
Among the women who died this way was Archduchess Mathilde of Austria, who hid a cigarette behind her back when her father walked into the room and caught fire.
(Excerpt) Read more at boingboing.net ...
In the 1800s? They didn’t even have functional toilets and plumbing back then.
Most of them still managed to outlive the men though, didn’t they?
Whoa, what? Then how did people go poo.
Outrageous. I'm glad I didn't live back then. I enjoy a good dooky.
Note to self: Don’t eat while reading FR. :-ppp
The story that the name nylon came from combining the names of New York and London has been around for a long time almost as long as nylon itself. It’s a good tale, and one with possibly even a little romance to it. Unfortunately, however, it’s not true
I think it still could happen with some nylon, polyesters or similar fabrics, burns and fuses to the skin.
All horrible. What was the saying, "Stop Drop and Roll?"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stop,_drop_and_roll
I believe it was a Christmas Eve dinner, and my mother had candles lit on the server. My one daughter who was about 7 or 8 who was directly across the table from me near the hostess seat and had medium-long straight hair that caught fire.
It happened so quickly most of us at the table didn't notice to react, but thanks to my Uncle Charles and before my daughter could panic, he immediately smothered the fire with his bare hands. Everyone registered shock after that. And awe at the actions of my uncle. And gratitude.
Something to warn girls (and anyone with long hair) about, haven't heard of an incident since the one with my daughter.
Ed
There’s room for a bucket under there...
There’s a lot to be said for buckskin dresses...
Whew....
Ferengi had the right idea: they don’t let their women wear clothes, so they never catch on fire.
You know now someone is going to have to post a ‘’daisy duke’’ photo. *hint hint*
No, the longer life expectancy of women is a modern phenomenon, due chiefly to the fact that, in earlier days, a large percentage of all women died giving birth (or shortly thereafter).
Regards,
Wool in particular is naturally fire resistant.
Dont forget to remind those of long hair to similarly exercise extreme caution when working around machinery and looking at the car engine while its running!
Since you asked, here is the answer https://youtu.be/NUHeSTDv_24
Don’t forget those polyester leisure suits of the 1970s that could deliver near lethal static electricity shocks while disco dancing
We have central heating and electric lights.
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