spontaneous human combustion

A process in which a human body allegedly catches fire as a result of heat generated by internal chemical activity, but without evidence of an external source of ignition. 200 cases have been reported world-wide; it is not accepted as a real phenomenon by all scientists and often regard as an urban legend.

Spontaneous Human Combustion, common features
• Body is completely or almost completely incinerated, but nearby furniture that would normally have been damaged at such temperatures remains intact.
• Damage is limited to victim’s clothing, floor, furniture and ceiling where he or she died.
• Fire affects torso; any remaining, unincinerated parts are of the extremities, such as the feet.
• No traces of fire accelerant or evidence of external cause.
• Victim is typically alone at time of death, and thought to have been alive when the fire started.
• Little sign of struggle.

References in periodicals archive ?

West Galway coroner Dr Ciaran McLoughlin said in his verdict: "This fire was thoroughly investigated and I'm left with the conclusion that this fits into the category of spontaneous human combustion, for which there is no adequate explanation.

Spontaneous Human sightings

Krogman has been widely, and erroneously, reported as having concluded that Mary Hardy Reeser, the so-called 'Cinder Woman', was an indubitable victim of the mysterious burning death, SHC, but he told me: 'I regard spontaneous human combustion as utterly impossible and in the realm of fantasy'.

The enigma of spontaneous human combustion

However, no one has ever managed to rigger off Spontaneous Human Combustion at will on his foes, apart from of course, Charles Dickens, the author of Bleak House: in it, an alcoholic was decimated by an instance of SHC - using it as an odious weapon - and Dickens, in return, earned the wrath of the scientific-minded for glorifying superstition.

Spontaneous Human Combustion: 76-year-old pensioner becomes the first Irish victim

Even a seemingly innocuous letter to the editor can become the starting point for finding an answer to a difficult reference query such as the one about spontaneous human combustion.

An ideological analysis of digital reference service models

If what they said is true, then it is spontaneous human combustion," added the doctor.

Mystery Baby: Tests Disprove Spontaneous Human Combustion Theory; Is the Child Victim of Abuse?

Dr McLoughlin added: "This fire was thoroughly investigated and I'm left with the conclusion that this fits into the category of spontaneous human combustion, for which there is no adequate explanation.

Man died at home after he burst into flames; INQUEST SHOCK ON BLAZE

Can Coronation Street viewers stand much more before spontaneous human combustion occurs?

Soap watch; Party hats are on - must mean trouble

AN epidemic of spontaneous human combustion hits South Park (TV3, Fri 9.

TV Talk : It's mob rule in Sugartime

So presenter Carol Vorderman introduced spooky stories about ghosts, spontaneous human combustion and other unexplained phenomena, then asked scientists to explain it.

DISPLAY IT AGAIN SAM

Using news reports, the magazine's editor tracked trends in thirty-four categories of phenomena, including crop circle, mass deaths, "water monsters," and spontaneous human combustion, as well as those listed below.

A bull market in weirdness

FEAR: Fear for the emotional and mental wellbeing of Teesside as the heart-pounding, nerveshredding intensity of the next few weeks pushes us close to the point of collective spontaneous human combustion.

Boro: What we hope, fear and expect now

Rahul, a native of Tindivanam, Tamil Nadu was admitted to Kilpauk Medical College and Hospital on Thursday for burns reportedly caused by a rare medical phenomenon known as Spontaneous Human Combustion (SHC) wherein a person catches fire due to emission of inflammable substances through the body.

Mystery Baby: 3-Month-Old Boy Catches Fire; What is Spontaneous Human Combustion?