Unbelievably Dangerous Magic Tricks for the Magician With a Death Wish,
from the 1948 edition of Fortunes in Formulas, by G.D.Hiscox & Prof. Sloane
These examples basically ensure the performer quick admittance to a burns unit.
Please don`t attempt to entertain using carbon disulphide, white phosphorus,
ether, potassium metal, petrol (gasoline) or deadly poisons
An Initial Cautionary Note
Particularly concerning the "Human Gas Trick"
To Fire Paper, etc., by Breathing on it
Molotov cocktail mixture for the magician
Burning Brimstone
Fun with a mixture of burning sulphur & petrol in the mouth
Burning Sealing Wax
"The moisture of the mouth cools it almost instantly"
Blazing Sponge Trick
Where else? In the mouth.
Demon Bowls of Fire
This one could torch the house, after the potassium explosions spray burning ether about
The Burning Banana
Almost tame, this one
Sparks from the Finger Tips
The safest trick
To Take Boiling Lead in the Mouth
Upon seeing a vat of boiling lead, who among us can honestly say they`ve never been tempted?
To Eat Burning Coals
After the boiling lead, only of minimal interest
Chain of Fire
"should it fall it would probably inflict a serious burn"
Biting Off Red-Hot Iron
"being careful not to let it touch your lips..."
Water Stirred Yellow, Scarlet & Colourless
Not pyrotechnical, but imbued with the possibility of accidental death by mercuric chloride poisoning