This preparation may be rendered much
stronger and more efficacious by mixing
equal quantities of spirit of sulphur, sal
ammoniac, essence of rosemary and juice
of onions. The bad effects which
frequently swallowing red-hot coals, melted
sealing wax, rosin, brimstone and other
calcined and inflammable matter, might
have had upon his stomach were prevented
by drinking plentifully of warm
water and oil, as soon as he left the
company, till he had vomited it all up again.


This anecdote was communicated to the
author of the Journal des Savants by Mr.
Panthot, Doctor of Physics and Member of the
College at Lyons. It appeared at the time
Powell was showing his fire-eating stunts in
London, and the correspondent naively added:


Whether Mr. Powell will take it kindly
of me thus to have published his secret I
cannot tell; but as he now begins to drop
into years, has no children that I know of
and may die suddenly, or without making
a will, I think it a great pity so genteel an
occupation should become one of the artes