, 1867-06-21
Lamp E1plOsion.-A Preventive.

1t has been stated by a gentleman, who
says he has kept strict record, that since
the year 1860 over 600 lives have been lost
and S6,OO0,O00 worth Of property destroyed
by accidents from the use Of burning fluids.
Whether this estimate is over or under the
truth, may never be known but quite
enough is known to assure US that lamp exS
plosous arc fearful source of loss Of life
and property. Moreover, such accidents
are becoming more frequent instead of less
so. The latter fact is probably attributable
to greater extent Of adulteration of petro-
leum burning oils than was formerly prac-
tlced. 1t is well known that many dealers
in kerorene increase the volume of the more
expensive and heavier oils, which are mex
| pOsive, with the lighter and cheaper oils,
which it is impossible to burn by themselves
in ordinary kerosene lamps. When such
oils are mixed The lighter oil is nearly or
quite as easily converted into an explosive
vapor from the mixture as when it is subs
jected TO the same degree of heat unmixed
with heavy oils. 1t is difficult for the con-
sumer 10 protect himself from such danger.
GUS adulterations, although there are modes
of detecting such mixtures easily applied in
the laboratory. Kerosene should be pur.
chased only of well known and responsible
dealers, and by all means care should be
taken to avoid irresponsible grocers or oil
dealers, especially such as you may think
arc sufficiently advanced in wickeiness as
to adulterate an article of this kind or sell
that which another has tampered with.
CAUSES OF EXPLOSIONS.
1t is so difficult, at the present time, to
obtain an inexplosive oil, that the only safe
way is to use your oil at all times as though
you kae10 it to be explosive for by employ
ing a little care and judgment you can use
quite dangerous oil with comparative safe
ty. In the first place, never use lamp for
kerosene with an "air hole,' after the man.
ner of the old sperm lamps. Such lamps
are especially dangerous. If you have such
a lamp, have the air-hole soldered up i'm
medialely. Neither allow any opening to
be left IN soldering IN tie tubes, as is some>
times DONE The tube should be put in
perfectly tight. The air will pass down by
the side of the wick fast euou gh to fill the
vacuum created by the diminution of the OIL
in burning.
In putting out your lamp, never turn it
down suddeDly-in fact, it should never be
turned down at all, as we will hereafter
show. By turning the wick down rapidly,
yon are liable to force upward sufficient
quantity of explosive gas, which is almost
always contained in the vacant part of the
reservoir, to produce an explosion. Ex-
plosions most generally occur at the instant
of turning do'on the wick to extinguish the
light, or by blowing down the chimney to
aid in exunguishiug 1.-THE first from the
cause already given; the second from blow
ing the blaze down into the reservoir, which
is almost always (afler IA lamp has been
burning any length of time) filled with
gas, ready to explode with the slightest con-
tact of flame. If it is necessary to blow
at all, always blow from beneath the chin
noy-neUer into It. Never fill kerosene
lamp while it is burning.