The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-12-30
Kerosene Explosi0us

The accounts which reach us, not unfre-
quently, through the newspapers, of the ex-
plosion of kerosene oil in lamps and other
vessels, have created an alarm in some fami-
lies quite adverse to the use of that illuminat-
ing fluid. The people need to be informed of
the point of danger. We fnd in the last
number of the Boston Journal of Chemistry
timely and valuable. article explaining the
causes of accidents by kerosene, which is
worthy of extensive circulation. The follow
ing is an extract from it: G
Kerosene accidents occur from two causes :.
first, imperfect manufacture of the Article;
second, authorizations. But lamp may be
TILED with bad kerosene, or with the vapor
even, and in no possible way can it explode,
unless atmospheric air has somehow got mix
ell with the vapor. A lamp. therefore, full, or
nearly full of the liquid, is safe; and also one
full oil pure warm vapor is sale. Explosions
generally occur when the lamp is first lighted
without being filled, and also late in the eve
ming, when the fluid in nearly exhausted.
The reason Of this will readily be seen. In
using imperfect or adulterated kerosene, the
space above the line OF oil is always filed with
vapor, and so long as it is warm and rising
freely, no air can reach it, and it is safe. At
bedtime when the family retire, the light is
extinsuished; the lamp cools, portion of
the vapor is condensed; this creates partial
vacuum in the space, which is instantly filled
with air. The mixture IS now more or less
explosive; and when, upon the next evening,
the lamp is lighted without replenishng With
oil, as is often done, an explosion is liable to
take place. Late in the evening, when the
oil is nearly consumed, and the space above
filed with vapor, the lamp cannot explode so
long as it remains at rest upon the table. But
70 q NJ in ifnf 70 s,N4.. ii
room, the vapor is cooled, air passes in, and
the vapor becomes explosive We hear much
said about dangerous gases being formed in
lamps, but this is an error. The whole haZ-
ard comes from air-mixed vapor.
But how can we be positively assured of
safety in the use of kerosene? How can we
know the character of the article offered us
by Dealers? Ii consumers are willing to be
put to little trouble, simple experipent
will determine the safety of the kercsepe they
purchase. Fill pint bowl two-thi,ds full OF
boiling water, and into it put COMMON me, me,
tallie thermometer. The temperature VIII
run up to over 200 degrees. BY gradually adj
ding cold water, bring down the temperature
OF the water to 10 degrees, ana then pour
| into the bowl a spooniui OF tne Serosehe, ana
| apply a liqhted match. II it takes fire, the
! article sho1Jd be rejected as dangerous; if
| NOT II may be used with confident feeling of
| its safety.
The Legislature of Maine last winter, pass
ed law making it penal offence for traders
or others to have in their possession and Of
fer for sale any kerosene oil that has not
passed an official inspection and received The
proper certificates and brand. If this law is
rigidly enforced, as it should be, the people of
this State may feel quite safe in the puI chase
and use of the oil But bad oil. it may be
like bad liquors from Boston and elsewhere,
are likely to find their way into some grocers'
shops; and the safest rule for all to adopt is