The Placer herald., 1855-12-08
Freedom from Danger in Descending Wells

Quite a number have lost their lives from
gas by descending into wells for the purpose
of cleaning them out and the Cleveland
(Ohio) Herald gives an account of cas-,
which recently occurred in Columbus, in that
State, where four persons after being nearly
deprived of life in a we'll, were only rescued
from their perilous situation at their last gasp
The cause of death in such cases is carbonc
acid gas, or as it is tamiliarly called, 'choke
damp" 1t prevents respiration; it extin-
guishes flame, and is generally found at the
bottom of wells, it being of greater specific
gravity than air. 1t is generated by vegeta-
bic decomposition and also by combustion,
and commonly finds its way into wells from
seams in the strata of the earth, from ada
cent places where chemical action is going
on.
Any well may be descended with perfect
safety by the use of quick or fresh burned
lme recently Stacked or without being
Stacked. When there is choke damp in a
well it can be easily known by letting down
lamp or candle by a cord. If the light
burns freely, it is sign that no choke damp
is there, and the well may be entered with
safety; but if the candle burns dimlv, or is
extlnguished, it is a SIGN Of danger To re-
move tins gas SO as to render it innoXious to
the person entering the well, all that has to
be done is simpl Y to throw down some pieces
of fresh burned lime into the water. and api-
tate it with the bucket on the rope or with a
pole,
Another plan is to slack the lime in small
heap mix it with water in a tub and throw
down throa L. .f,,l1. Al. N,
if it is desired to enter the well and not dis
turb the water in it, take about half pail
full of Stacked lime, mix it quickly with cold
water in a small tub and lower it down into
the well by cords attached to its lugs, so as
to rest on the surface Of the water The
contents Of this tub must be stirred up for
ten minutes with a pole in the well and then
left suspended for an hour When drawn
up, any person may descend the well with |
safety The philosophy of this is that most
lime has great affinity for carbonc acid
gas, and it therefore absorbs it rapidly from
the atmosphere.
If we take some fresh Stacked lime and
stir it up in a vessel containing cold water,
and allow it to remain so for five or six hours,
a hard scale like that of thin ice, will be
lounu on lne top OF the water. lhls scale is +
carbonate Of lime, formed by the absorption
of carbonic acid gas from the atmosphere
IA very small quantity of carbonic acid is
mixed with all the air we breathe,) and the
scale is thin pellicle of stone-marbe |
The lime of good mortar becomes hard by
returning to its former condition of lime
stone, by the absorption of carbonic acid |
0aS from the atmOsplere and the formation |
of a thin scale of carbonate of lime on a vat |
affords evidence of the manner in which |
some of the sedimentary rocks were formed.
No person need be afraid Of descending into
a we'll if he pursues the directions given. BY
letting down candle into the well, after the
lime has been allowed to play its part, its
light will indicate when it is safe to descend. |
For the safety of life, we hope this informa-
ton will be circulated far and near.
Scientific 1merican.