Buzz
In The Mystery of the Exploding Teeth: And Other Curiosities from the History of Medicine, medical historian Thomas Morris shares a series of strange yet captivating tales drawn from historical medical records and other sources. In this account, he details the tragic end of an elderly noblewoman, Countess Cornelia di Bandi, whose death would later inspire Charles Dickens more than a century afterward.
Can humans suddenly catch fire? Centuries ago, many were convinced this was possible, particularly if the individual was an older woman who consumed alcohol excessively. Spontaneous human combustion became a popular subject in the early 1800s, following several high-profile cases covered by the media. During a time when candles were commonplace and clothing was often highly flammable, many incidents were likely accidental fires where the victim’s body fat contributed to the blaze. However, the peculiar nature of some cases—where the body was almost entirely reduced to ash while surrounding items remained unharmed—fueled theories of a more enigmatic origin. Various explanations were proposed, ranging from supernatural causes to scientific hypotheses.
Charles Dickens was among those who firmly believed in spontaneous combustion. He famously depicted the death of Krook, the alcoholic rag merchant in Bleak House, through a fire that left behind only a “small charred and broken log of wood.” Dickens had extensively researched the topic and was certain of its validity. His portrayal of Krook’s death closely mirrored the real-life account of Italian aristocrat Countess Cornelia di Bandi, who was engulfed by flames in her bedroom. Her case, documented in 1731 by clergyman Giuseppe Bianchini and later translated by renowned Italian poet and Royal Society member Paolo Rolli, served as a key inspiration for Dickens.
"Countess Cornelia Bandi, aged 62, had spent her day in her usual good health. However, during supper that evening, she appeared lethargic and unwell. After retiring to bed, she spent over three hours chatting with her maid and reciting prayers before finally falling asleep, at which point the door was closed."
The next morning, when the countess failed to appear at her usual hour, the maid attempted to wake her by calling through the door. Receiving no response, she went outside and peered through a window, only to witness a horrifying sight:
"Four feet away from the bed lay a pile of ashes, with only the legs intact from the feet to the knees, still clad in stockings. Between them was the lady’s head, her brain, the back of her skull, and her chin reduced to ashes. Among the remains were three blackened fingers. The rest had turned to ash, which left a greasy, foul-smelling residue when touched."
Strangely, the surrounding furniture and linens remained almost entirely unaffected by the fire.
"The bed itself was unharmed; the blankets and sheets were only slightly disturbed, as if someone had risen or entered. The entire room, including the furniture, was covered in a damp, ash-colored soot that had even seeped into the chest of drawers, staining the linen inside."
The soot had even spread to the nearby kitchen, coating its surfaces. A slice of bread covered in the repulsive substance was offered to several dogs, all of which turned it away. Considering it likely contained the charred remains of their owner's body fat, their refusal to eat it was hardly surprising.
"In the room above, it was observed that a greasy, repugnant, yellowish liquid dripped from the lower part of the windows. A foul odor lingered in the air, though its source was unclear, and soot particles floated around the area."
The floor was also smeared with a sticky, unremovable residue described as a “gluish moisture.” Naturally, significant efforts were made to determine the cause of the fire, involving some of Italy’s most brilliant thinkers. Monsignor Bianchini (referred to as “Prebendary of Verona”) dismissed the usual suspects as the source of the flames:
"The effect could not have been caused by an oil lamp or candles, as ordinary fire, even in large quantities, does not reduce a body to such an extent. Moreover, it would have spread to the room’s more flammable furnishings, which remained untouched."
Bianchini also entertained the idea that a thunderbolt might have sparked the fire but noted the absence of typical signs, such as scorched walls or a sharp, burning smell. So, what caused the blaze? The priest concluded that the fire had originated within the woman’s body:
"The blaze originated within the body’s internal organs, fueled by the inflamed vapors of her blood, digestive juices, and stomach fermentations. Living bodies contain numerous flammable substances essential for life processes, as well as fiery evaporations from spirits like wine and brandy, which accumulate in the stomach’s inner lining and fatty tissues."
Bianchini argued that these “fiery evaporations” become more prone to ignition at night when the body is at rest and breathing becomes steady. He also noted that static electricity, visible as sparks when certain fabrics rub against hair, could have ignited the flammable materials within her abdomen.
"Is it any wonder what happened to the elderly lady? Her drowsiness before bed resulted from excessive heat trapped in her chest, blocking normal perspiration, which typically releases around 40 ounces of moisture nightly. The ashes found four feet from her bed suggest she instinctively rose to cool herself, possibly intending to open a window."
However, he then revealed what was likely the true cause of the fire:
"The elderly woman had a habit of rubbing her entire body with camphorated spirits of wine whenever she felt unwell, and she may have done so that very night."
Camphorated spirits, a mixture of camphor and alcohol, were commonly used to treat skin ailments and as a revitalizing lotion. Its highly flammable nature, however, seems to have been overlooked.
"This detail is of little significance, as the prevailing theory attributes the fire to internal heat and flames. Ignited within her organs, the fire naturally rose upward, finding easier passage through more oily and flammable tissues, sparing the legs. The thighs, being closer to the fire’s origin, were also burned, with the blaze intensified by urine and excrement, both highly combustible substances, as evidenced by their phosphorous properties."
Thus, it was the “internal heat and fire” that led to the countess’s death. Only a persistent skeptic would argue that an elderly woman, who regularly bathed in flammable liquids before sleeping in a room lit by open flames, was essentially a walking fire hazard.
Dutton/Penguin BooksAdapted from The Mystery of the Exploding Teeth: And Other Curiosities from the History of Medicine by Thomas Morris. right © 2018 by Thomas Morris. Published in collaboration with DUTTON, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC.
