Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1841-06-24

in the 80 called Bude light, which is IN use
believe in some OF The Engish light houses
ard in the House Of Commons. The oxygen
passes from tho gasometer to several small
blow pines around the wicks, aud can also
be Introduced within them as mir Is IN the
Common Argand lamp. The consumption OF
oxygen, from the Statements that have come
to US, is much less than would DE supposed,
and it ia thought by DR.. Farady that the
saving of oil will pay the cost OF the oxygen.
II may do so in England, but this would not
be The case with US.
In regard to any novelty OF construction ~
the lamps in which the chemical oil is used,
as far as have had opportunity examining
there seems to be nothing. The button for
spreading the fame is quite all old affair, II
was years ago used in what were called
Liverpool lamps" and was adopted in sma!'
Ter lamps made by person of the name oi
TarbelI, in your city. The brass cone and
small chimney are not at oil new. Even
with these additions the smoke is not all
consumed. The quantity Of carbon, lamp
black, from burning turpentne IS enormous;
with tall chimney il may appear TO be con
sumed, but it is not.
As the hot smoke escapes into the cooler
Atmosphere it deposites the carbon, and the
lamp. black falls in exceedingly fine PARTICLES
upon all bodies. 1t may not be very oppar-
ent upon dark suriaces for time, but upon
white and delicate surfaces will be percepti
bile. Such is said TO have been the case al
the late ball a, Faneul Hall, and the depos-
ite Of LAMP black upon the persons and dres'
scs OF the company 10 have been by no means
invisible. II the greatest care is not taken
to adjust the flame to the supply of air, dense
smoke, lamp black will be poured out in
abundance. Now tins care may, it is true.
be taken, but we must not too often entrusi
lamps to the attention Of careless attendants,
and run the risk of not only smoke, but smell.
have hehrd Of one instance where lamp
in which the "chemical oil" was burning, had
been left on the table for very short time.
and the gentleman who had been highly
pleased with its brllliancy, on returning To
the apartment, found it full Of smoke, and his
books, papers, &c. in no very pleasing con
diton, but covered with delicate lamp. black.
The atmosphere of London,as you well know,
is SO impregnated with carbon that the houses
present but dlngy appearance, and linen
| that was snow white in the morning, has be
come unwcarable ut noon.
! Currents of air and the motion Of the lamp
or OF persons near It, las we sec o!lcn with
our common lamps) must interfere with the
nice adjustment Of the turpentne lamps, re-
sulting not merely in smoked glasses, but
smutty faces and spotted dresses. To this
accident, these new lamps must be more
exposed than those in common use W ltb
whale oil.
have alluded to the attempts in England
to substitute turpentne and similar substun.
ces for oil or gas. With oil the induccmenl
from the high price Of oil, the contrivances
o. Parkinson. Freeman, and several other in
gcnious men, have been Intellectual. So con
fdent, however, was one OF these inventors
that after sccurlnga patent, company was
formed, one of their objects being to intro.
duco the new lamp and it's oil into use in
Russia: but although the new oil did moi
"explode," the company did, and most of ,h,
stockholders "burnt their fingers"
OF the unwholcsome products of the com.
bdston Of turpeDtne ] have said nothing
these however, must be taken into account,
and as the material is SO rich in carbon car
bonic ncid must be produced; while the con.
sumption of oxygen, tho resprabIe portion oI
the air, must prop0rtionably increase, and
there is reason 10 fear that Ill effects similar
TO those from burning charcoal must be ex.
perienced.
In estimating the risks from the use Of the
lamps in which the substitutes for oil arc
burned, the great amount OF heat from the
ascending current Of hot air, and from rndia,
ton should not be overlooked. This great
heating effect must be often a serious incon
vcnience, especially in close apartments.
J. w. WEBSTER.
CAMBRIDGE, March 18th, lSli.