New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-09-22

of oxygen On the other hand, cam phene conists
of purely coubus.ble matter, burns intensely, sod
contains nothing to retard the activity Of the burn
ing process. II exposed TO tie air i sooo spous,
s it belongs to the class Of essential oils which, BY
combination with oxygen, are changed into sub
stances Of q resnous nature. It should therefore
be procured in small quantities, fresh from the man.
ufac'urer, ard carefully preserved in tight vsssels
The combination Of camphene with alcohol forms
what 10 known as burning huid. This is preferred
to pure camphene, - il is not liable TO smoke.
Alcohol has 80 little carbon that when barped aloDc
it produces only feeble blush white light II has
too much hydrogen, just the opposite fault Of cam
phere, which has too much carbon. Hence, when
mixed, they form compound which supplies tho
de feiencies of both yields an excellent light, aud
may be burned in lamps Of the simplest construc-
ton. This mixture is commonly burned with
wicks, but it can be used ia lamp 90 constructed
that the liquid is vaporzed by the heat OF tho
burner, ard escaping in jets is burned without .
wick, like common gas.
The dreadful accidents, Of which yeu 20 fire.
ouently read in our columns, occurring from The
use Of c,nphene and burning fluid, are essly ex-
planned. Both spirits Of turptntine and alcohol are
very volatile. that s, when exposed 10 the Ar or
not confined they rapidly eyapotAte or rice into tho
gaseous state. The fluid in lamp as it is gradual
y consumed, has its place supplied BY vspor which
rises from the upper space. So with all veeseis
that are partially filled with the liquid. The vacant
space becomes filed with vapOr, which being mixed
with air, on contact with the slightest sparh or
ax,las III =
fire to the burning fluid, which in itself 10 highly
phsmmabe, and thus the most disastrous consc-
quences often ensue. Mos. accidents that occur in
this manner proceed from attempts to ill lighted
lamp The vapor of the opened lamp or can takes
fire from the flame. it explodes with more or lees
violence sets the liquid on fire, and burns whatever
it touches. The lamp, moreover is liable " e1pto-
sion from heating the vapor, unless there are open
irgs for its escape. A safety lamp hss been In
vented for burning huids, on Sir Humphrey Days
| principle, which is highly commended IN this
| volume
| The portion OF the work devoted to Air il full
of valuable instruction, which scarcely can oo too
often urged on the attention Of the public. Tho
pre-, sure of atmosphere Oh the body Of medium
sized man is equal to weight of 80 600 lbs, which,
were it not resisted by an equal atmosphere from
within, would instantly crush the strongest frame
| in o atoms One pound Of air measures about l33
cubic feet A room feet high ~ wide and Is
long, contains about 100 lbs. of air; and room ~
feet square and Is feet high contains about Gun.
But The pressure Of air on the body 10 not the same
| at all times. Every alteration Of an inch in tho
mercury of the barometer adds or removes weight
| of $50 from the average weight which man Of
| common stature sustains The effects Of sudden
| charge in the atmospheric pressure are often
shown in the shape of headache and apeplexy.
| The impurities of the atmosphere are tho secret
cause of great variety Of diseases The decay Of
4 organic matter, vegetable and animal generates nu-
merous substances which are prejudcial to health.
TIE air is the grand reservoir into which all volatile
matters escape, many of them bearing tho princi-
pies of contagon and pest.lence. But we are not
without the means of avoiding this danger. The
salubrity of the air is promoted BY elevation. The
open bill top insures atmospheric purity in ordi-
nary cases. A rise Of sixteen feet within three
hundred yards has been known TO produce IN entire
change from relaxing to bracing air. The com
mon belief s correct that night sir 10 less heatAfuI
than that Of day. Tropical fevers are most fatal u
the night. Yet the miasma which produces them
is generated with the greatest rapidly during the
intense heat of tho sun. The reason Of this 10
easily explained. In the daytime, the air, heated
| by contact with the burning ground, expands And
rises in an upward current, thus dilutpg and car
| rying away the poisonous malaria - fast ~ it 10
developed. But at night in the absence Of solar
| heat, no such force 10 at work, and the nlasms
are accumulated and condensed in the lower strata
Of the atmosphere. Hence, tho upper stories Of .
house are less exposed than the ground.noor, and
are more eligible for sleeping chambers. During
tho prevalence of yellow fever 10 Philadelphia,
those who occupied apartments in the third story
were far less liable 10 attack than those Who re-
sided lower. Sleeping in low rooms 10 probably
worse in tho city than in the country.
The atmosphere contains the means Of p1n6ca-
| cation within itself. When noxous exhals6ons
are set free they difused through tho vast vol
ume of the air, and, by the law Of gaseous e1psn-
sion aided by winds and storms, are lost in the uni
versal intermixture. Oxygen finally scts upon
them, and burns them up a. completely - IL they
had been consumed in furnace Not 90 within
the walls Of q dwelling. There the causes Of impa-
rity are confined. The air loses large proportion
Of its oxygen by being breathed. and receives a.
equal quantity Of poisonous carbone acid By To
same process. The burning Of fuel and cembus-
ton for light produce the Same effect Alright
stoves and hot air furnaces arc especially objection
able on this account. Gaseous eIhalAtons Of per-
r;.;ous cral;fv esrsne from thu kitrhan The dis-