The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1857-01-03
From Lie Illustrated.
Camphenc Explosions.

Almost every newspaper ! glance over
contains an account OF some shocking acci-
dent, the result of camphcnc explosions
Now suspect that such a phenomenon as /:
real, genuine camphene-lamp explosion. new
er took place, and never will. The material
with which it is flied, though higy intam-
mable, as shavings, flax. tow, cotton, etc,
yet it is not erpLostre | do not believe an
explosion can be produced by camphcnc.
Then why are SO many accounts Of cam
phene explosions published every week and
every day? Is there fixed. settled, deter
mined combination to deceive the public: !:
No; do not suppose any such intention
exists. But there few who make any
distinction between camp!iene and burning
fluid; the former constituted chiefly Of the
spirits of turpentine, AID the latter of alco-
hol. VI hensver there is an explosion Of a
lamp Of burning fluid, it is herslded as
campheRe accident-until the great majority
of the people, anxious though they are to
obtain the best and most economical artifi
cial light, have become impressed with the
idea that caDphine is a material scarcely
less explosive and dangerous than gunpow-
der.
In several instance in Boston, and also in
Philadelphia, when reports have been pub
llshed OF camphene explosions have taken
pains to visit the scenes of the reported
ca!smities, and have invariable found that
there was no camphene Whatever connected
with tho accident The attention Of the
editors who published the false reports has
been called 10 the truth IN the case, and
they, have made the necessary corrections
But the very next week, Perhaps, they
Will commit the very same fundamental er
ror-lay some shocking burning .faid ca
lam!ty to caD.pheHe.
If camphcnc is not erpl0sire, it ought TO
be generally kuown-espuoialiy 10 those
who do not enjoy the advantages of gas
light-for, next to that, it affords by far tbs
most powerful and economical artificial
light in use. Indeod, the same amount OF
money expended in camphene will afford
more light than if expended in gas-if we
reckon the camphene at eighty cents a gal
lon, and the gas At s. 30 der thousand feet,
but IL costs more attention to keep the lamps
in order than the sas-burners.
That many accidents may have happened
from TIE use of camphene, | do not doubt;
for 1T is very inilannable material, and
will ignite almost as readily rs powder In
case it takes fire. OF course everything OF
combustble nature, in close proximity, IL
liable to take fire also. When svch caiarui-
u = OCEuE bdNt iOIi.0 tiI'f 'li'tS
to be published as explosions. With any
thing BIKE ordinary care, no such disasters
will eve; transpire-and as for an explosion
that regard as out of the question.
hope, if any weli-authenticatcd case Of
cainphene explosion can be produced, the
readers Of Life illustrated may be posted
up upon the matter. do not want a mere
newspaper report-of- those we have seen
enough already; but let US hear Of an ex-
piosion that - a Tealny-and, further. let
US know something of the structure Of the
lamp i'll which the explosion took place. |
shall look with interest for the history of
such a case. | am well acquainted with a
gentleman Of no ordinary scientific attain
ments, who says he VII give 500 to VT
ness eamphine explosion, and that for
that pursose every preparation may be de-
lIberately made that the most ingenious
practical chemist can invent or suggest.