The Sun.
London, England, 1868-05-01 00:00:00

THE USE OF GAS TAR.

Gas tar and ammoniaeal liquor from gasworks
not many years ago formed one of the most repul-
sive nuisances known to manufacturers. It was
either thrown into the river, where it floated in
ghastly blue patches, under the name of Blue
Billy, or, as at Edinburgh, was conveyed stealthily
away at night and emptied into the sea. These
offensive products have within these last few years
been distilled and transferred into a number of
liquids and solids, all of which are more or less valu-
able. The gas tar, a material with soiling powers
unequalled, and with an odour that is unapproach-
able, yields benzol, an ethereal body of great sol-
vent powers, which forms the principal constituent
of benzine, the most effectual remover of grease
stains known, generally used to renovate kid gloves.
Benzol produces nitric acid and nitro benzol, a body
resembling in odour bitter almond scent, largely
employed in perfuming soap. Could any two pro-
ducts appear more antagonistic to the substance
from which they spring? From the same tar we
have various mixtures of substances chemically
similiar to benzol. These are popularly known as
" naphtha." One liquid of this kind is the gas-
substitute of the peripatetic costermonger and cheap
Jack, besides being the source of illumination of
many large factories and yards in which nightwork
is done. Another of them, mixed with turpentine,
is at once elevated to the dignity of the drawing-
room, where it appears in the table-lamp as cam-
phine. Naphtha is also frequently used in dissolving
resins, indiarubber, and gutta-percha. Lampblack
is made by burning, with slight access of air, the
least volatile components of gas tar. Moreover, if
these be melted and mixed with pebbles, a valuable
paving material is produced, with the appearance
of which most of us are familiar. Red dyes, but
unfortunately of only ephemeral beauty, can be
made from that once dreaded enemy to the gas ma-
nufac tu r e—n aphth al ine.—qtarterly Review.

[ADVEATISEMENT.J—Henceforth no one will doubt the valuable
properties of Du Barry's health-restoring Revalenta Arabica
Invalids' and Infants' Food, since to the thousands of blessings
it has already received from Invalids whose position had been
deemed hopeless, we may now add that of his Holiness the Pope,
whose health has been perfectly restored by it after thirty years
of unsuccessful medical treatment. We quote from the "Gazette
de Midi," July 25th :—" Rome, July 21, 1866.—" The health of
the Holy Father is excellent, especially since, abandoning all
other remedies, he has confined himself entirely to Du Barry's
Revalenta Arabica Food, of which he consumes a plateful
at every meal. It has ptoduced a surprisingly beneficial
effect on his healta, and his Holiness cannot praise this
excellent food too highly." We extract a few oat of
more than 68,000 cures:—Cure No. 53,216, of the Marchiownaoys...
de Brehan, of seven years' liver coinplaint, waiting
l 0.. A,
v bad
debility, nervousness, with a nervous
digestion, constant sleeplessness, and the Lord
ner-
vous agitation. Cure No. 1,771: Lord .
•. 50.49,832
Lieutenant of Waterford, of many years' P 1)
easitPuuilt3orsttti°d intolerableapeci.es,
... 0
LI spasms,sickness,
asthma"ilt "Fifty
cough,
h, cot,indescribablestipatio agonyn fromey, day rssp eep
si a , nervousness,
and
of Friniley, Surrey, of 30 years' diseas
vomiting.—Maria Joly." Cure No. 46e,2110u:nglars,.
sjpaitmtinesg of blood,
n Lie:Ng s name is most auda-
ciously derangement, and partial deafness Important Caution.—
livervt
yo ul3rl rr ando
tc7owwu shalriyeehaoi ftwatcilehoondui 't
Inlutuhnosral
In tins at Is. 11341.11.,825511.b02 lbs., 4s.
ati,;
C 6 01. b, sN.
01.75.7;,
'l2 40
lbs., 225.; 21 lbs., •
hurch-str; 4, Cheaside; 63, 150, also FortA nu mnd so , a Man, 182, Piccadilly ;
Resent street, London;
and at 61, Graeae
Oxford-street; 330. Strand ;e eand all groceprF and chezniate.and 298,