In France, a chemist named Pilatre de Rozier tested the flammability of hydrogen by gulping a mouthful and blowing across an open flame, proving at a stroke that hydrogen is indeed explosively combustible and that eyebrows are not necessarily a permanent feature of one's face.

Bill Bryson
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In France, a chemist named Pilatre de Rozier tested the flammability of hydrogen by gulping a mouthful and blowing across an open flame, proving at a stroke that hydrogen is indeed explosively combustible and that eyebrows are not necessarily a permanent feature of one's face. It is an amusing bit of information to learn that the first man who used hydrogen as a fire-extinguisher was French. The story goes that whilst sitting in his library, Monsieur de Rozier caught sight of the smoke from a fire in the street below. He then rushed down to see if he could help, but upon reaching the scene found it was under control.

After a little while, however, he noticed smoke billowing out from his friend's house and returned to investigate. His friend told him there had been a small explosion in his laboratory and offered to show him the damage. As they walked towards the house they came across an unconscious Frenchman lying on the ground.

He had been blown back from the doorway by what looked like a small explosion and had been hurtling through space for some time before smacking into a tree trunk.

Source: A Short History Of Nearly Everything

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