Sunday dispatch. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1845-1854, 1852-03-21
LAMP EXPLOSIONS.

MT. Ennis, IN d lS8buEG lDGCnbly uSlVoIoN
at Newark, gave the following explanation
of the causes which have lead to the many |
disastrous results, often ending in death,
from the supposed explosion Of lamps con-
tanning phosphene and other burning fluids, |
may not be embarrassing to the reSder AS
he explains the matter, we can9pt but con
slider that those who hereafter permit accl-
cents to occur, on reading his remarks, will |
be criminally to blame, and ought not to re-
ceive that sympathy for their sutferings, |
which the community have heretofore moon
siderately awarded sufferers. Let every one
read and be instructed Mr. Ennis COM
menced by stating that very unfavorable
and uriust views are entertained by many
about the common burning fluid now much
in use as fuel for lamps Camphene is sPlr-
it's Of turpentine phosphene gas, the bright
est and best of these articles, differs from
burning fluid in having all the water taken
out of the alchohol before mixture, ano on
this account it will combine with much
greater amount of camphene. The great err
ror now IN the community is suppositlon
that it will explode dangerously. Almost
every week we see accounts in the newspa
pers of 'sCamphene Explosions" and ofgreat
mischief done thereby. Even scientific men,
some Of the highest in the land, have spoken
and written about the explosion Of burning
fluid in such way as to prevent It's use.
The danger is not in any explosion.
glass lamp was exhibited before the audience
which had been burning for more than three
hours the fluid was nearly ont, and above
the luid in the upper part Of the lamp was o
mixture of the vapor Of the fluid and the at
mospheric air: the whole was considerably
heated from the length Of time it had been
burning from two tubes The lecturer ex
tinguished the flame, unscrewed the metal
lie top and laid it aside; and then applied q
lighted taper to the opening in the top OF the
lamp The result was o slight puff, scarcely
audible, and no movement whatever, either
Of the lamp or the remaining fluid within it.
A great many such experiments had been
tried bv Mr.. Ennis with these three substan-
oes, calnphene, burning fluid and alcohol,
and in all cases the results had convinced
him that the explosions are by no means dan
gerous, and that they have nothing to do
With the many sad accidents we hear oftrom
the careless use of burning fluid.
The real sources Of danger may easily be
avoided il once they be pointed out, and then
there can be little or no objection against the
use of these really good artioles-so far su-
perior to oil in cleanliness, hardness, and
pleasantness Of light. The only way that
mischief can be done is by spilling the fluid:
in a burning state over things that easily
take fire; and the spilling generally takes
place in two ways. By suddenly shaking q
= glass lamp quite full Of burning fluid, theH
10 unless the wicks be very tight In the tubes
r the fluid will flow out at their tops and rur
0 down all on fire over the outside OF the glass
q Ofcourse the heat will crack the glass, anC
q all the fluid within will flow out over sur
q rounding objects in adevouring fame. Thil
! ~, por,'c Aon vi
s shaking while walking along, and the gar
: ments Of ladies being combustible, many live
s have thus been lost Every one who use
f the burning fluid, should try his own lamps
9 whenever they have new wicks, and see hoV
n much violent shaking they will bear. lfyoV
y see the fluid coming rapidly out Of the tube
Q in a stream Of fire, blow it out quickly viii
2 your breath, and do not light it again,
much has come out, until it has been wipe
G off.
o The lecturer once was present when
9 young lady quickly took two lighted glas
e lamps from the mantle piece, and placed ther
Q on the tea. table As the fluid gushed ou
and ran down on the glass, she and the Who'll
l company started back instantly expecting O.
explosion He rushed up and blew them on
# and 40 harm was done.
n Again they were lighted without havin
the nulO Wlpeu OH, dhu Juey I64ullou W y
Q blown out instantly again. Had they no
been SO quickly blown out, the glass woul
u have cracked, all the fluid within would nav
ran flaming over the table cloth, which wit
the table would soon have been on fire. TIL
a very plain remedy for all this is to put in tn
n wicks tightly, and then try how much agi
tation the lamps will bear when full.
= The other mode of camphene accidents
the audden taking fire Of the fluid both i
Is the lamp and in the can, when the fluid
replenished while the wicks are burning. 0
course the person holding them gets fright
W ened, throws down both can and lamp, an
% the blazing liquid is spread around in ever
direction, setting FIRE to all combustible
j. within it's reach. Such accidents may b
avoided Just as easily as not, simply by fiji
l, ling the lamps in the day time. When an,
,e of these fluids are warm, by being an hou
Il or two in lighted lamp, their vapors, thougl
j. invisible, rise thickly, and may take fire
foot or more from the lamp.
IF It is advisable for house keepers to try ex
st periments for themselves, so as to know ia
miliarly the nature of these fluids. This ma,