Thibodaux minerva., 1853-10-22


B0DAUX, LOUISIANA,
Camphene, Burning Fluids, DO.
The following III an abstract Of an article
which appeared insthe Journal of Commerce
by Alex. Jones, of New York:
We doubt whether there are any other com.
positions so extensively used in domestic econo-
my, regarding which such gross ignorance pre-
wallis, as the articles at the head of this commu-
nication. The ignorance has been worse con-
founded by the introduction Of unmeaning
names. #4s
It should be remembered that not all infam-
mable substances are explosive; otherwise fish
oil ald candles would explode.
Weknow the whole history Of the materials
produced BY the pine tree, and used for purposes
Of illumination. And, strange enough, common
parlance has applied the word scamphene' to
the whole of them. This name arose as follows:
The idea of using the common spirits of turpen-
tine for illumination, had been long entertained
but its great excess of carbon rendered it unfit
for use, as its combustion produced dense vol
umes Of smoke. Attempts were made to neu-
tralize this carbon, by the addition of other
substances. Itwas found that if small portions
Of gum camphor were dissolved in the spirits of
turpentine, it changed it to clear fluid, which
burnt with bright fame, without smoke, and
Was no more explosive than common fish oil.
This prepared spirits of turpentine was 'eam-
phene,' and was introduced to the public under
that name, as patented article.
1t was soon found, however, that the use of
camphor rendered it too expensive, and the
use Of spirits of turpentine was tried in various
ways without it. 5.+
Finally a lamp was invented which, by means
of a metallic button in the centre of a circular
wick at the point of combustion, became so
much heated, aided by q good draft through an
improved glass chimney, as to consume all the
carbon of the spirits Of turpentine, producing a
steadysand brilliant light, far surprising that
afforded by gas, or any other substance, and at
about half the cost of winter sperm oil, or gas.
The spirits of turpentine thus used, is to this
day called camphene, although it has not one
particle of eamphor in its composition.
By retail, it costs only on an average about 60
cents per gallon. while winter strained sperm
oil to produce the same light, costs about 137
cents per gallon by retail This plain spirits of
turpentine {miscalled camphene) is wholly in
explosive, and we defy any party to give sim
.
have used it in my house for four or FIVE
years past, and prefer it to all others.
We have no hesitation in saying that by the
use of proper lamps, the streets of cities, and
Government light houses, could be illuminated
by the use of common pure spirits Of turpentine,
at about one half the cost of any other material
whatever, and with 3 brilliancy far surprising
all others in proportion to size of burners. Spirits
Of turpentine is % much national product as
whale oil; and more 50 than coal gas, distilled,
as is usual, from Liverpool coal, and Government
should institute experiments as to its applica-
bility for light house purposes Yet this simple,
cheap, and safe light, it Is proposed to prohibit
from use by Legislative enactment. This is on
par with the ancient legislation in England,
which prohibited the use of bituminous coal.
There is another composition used for illumi-
nation, called by the ignorant, indiferently,
burning iuid,' or scamphene.' It was found
that, if common high proof whisky, or talcohol,
was mixed with common spirits of turpentine,
it, like camphor, neutialized the excessive car
bon, and brought it into state fit to be burned
in an ordinary lamp, like the common oil lamp,
with ordinary wick tubes. fy4srs -Es5
This fluid is explosive, or about so much so
as alcohol, and requires care in filling lamps.
1t, also, is cheap and beautiful light. Its COM
ponent parts, alcohol and spirits of turpentine
being cheap and cleanly, it forms an exceedingly
bright and steady light, better for the eyes than
either gas, or oil light Inusing the lamps with
this mixture, they should always be filed in the
day time, and set aside for use. Whenever,
through gross carelessness, an explosion happens,
it is published to the world as the explosion of
scamphene lamp s a
We have never heard of an accident of the
kind, that was not the result of gross careless
ness. They nearly always happen by attempt
ing to fill the lamp while burning, or by bring
ing the Auid in contact with fire or light Of some
kind
The name of .pine oil is a humbug. Spirits
Of turpentine is nothing but oils from pines,
(Oleum Terebintha. The nick name pine OIL
only merns spirits Of turpentine obtained from
common rosin, left in it by previous distllation,
and then burnt alone, or mixed with alcohol.
The slight effuvia Of turpentine, giving of by
the combustion of spirits Of turpentine, hold
to be highly conducive to health, especially in
bronchitis, and in affections Of the lungs. Iex-
perienced benefit from it in my own case,
having suffered severely at times from bron-
chitis. Indeed, physicians sometimes recon-
mend . residence in the pine forests Of the South
as remedy for pulmonary diseases.
N PAYING LfKEA SINNER.-Several years
ago, III North Carolina, where it is not Gus
tomary for the tavern keepers to charge the