Ask a spectator what he saw, and he will say that the performer took a spoonful of molten lead, placed it in his mouth, and soon afterwards showed it in a solid state, bearing the exact form and impression of his teeth.If deception be insinuated, the spectator will say.``No! Having the evidence of my senses, I cannot be deceived; if it had been a matter of opinion I might, but seeing, you know, is believing.''
Now the piece of lead, cast from a plaster mould of the performer's teeth, has probably officiated in a thousand previous performances, and is placed in the mouth between the gum and the cheek, just before the trick commences.The spoon is made with a hollow handle containing quicksilver, which, by a simple motion, can be let run into the bowl, or back again into the handle at will.
The spoon is first shown with the quicksilver concealed in the handle, the bowl is then dipped just within the rim of the pot containing the molten lead, but not into the lead itself, and, at the same instant the quicksilver is allowed to run into the bowl.
The spoon is then shown with the quicksilver (which the audience takes to be the melted lead) in the bowl, and when placed in the mouth, the quicksilver is again allowed to run into the handle.
The performer, in fact, takes a spoonful of nothing, and soon after exhibits the lead bearing the impression of the teeth.
Molten lead, for fire-eating purposes, is made as follows:
Bismuth...............5 oz.
Lead.................3 oz.
Block tin..............2 oz.
Melt these together.When the metal has cooled, a piece the size of a silver quarter can be melted and taken into the mouth and held there until it hardens.This alloy will melt in boiling water.Robert-Houdin calls it Arcet's metal, but I cannot find the name elsewhere.
The eating of burning brimstone is an entirely fake performance.A number of small pieces of brimstone are shown, and then wrapped in cotton which has been saturated with a half-and-half mixture of kerosene and gasoline, the surplus oil having been squeezed out so there shall be NO DRIP.When these are lighted they may be held in the palm of any hand which has been anointed with one of the fire mixtures described in this chapter.Then throw back the head, place the burning ball in the mouth, and a freshly extinguished candle can be lighted from the flame.Close the lips firmly, which will extinguish the flame, then chew and pretend to swallow the brimstone, which can afterwards be removed under cover of a handkerchief.
Observe that the brimstone has not been burned at all, and that the cotton protects the teeth.To add to the effect, a small piece of brimstone may be dropped into the furnace, a very small piece will suffice to convince all that it is the genuine article that is being eaten.
To cause the face to appear in a mass of flame make use of the following: mix together thoroughly petroleum, lard, mutton tallow and quick lime.Distill this over a charcoal fire, and the liquid which results can be burned on the face without harm.[3]
[3] Barnello's Red Demon.
