Middletown transcript., 1868-02-29
The Value of Petroleum to nIanl.lnd.

AS medicine for both man and beast,
petroleum is certainly without an equal.
For rheumatic complaints, lumbago, and
all pains and aches, used externally, it
gives almost instantaneous, relief. For
frost-bittcn feet or limbs, for bee-stings,
for burns or scalds, even the most severe /;
for every description of sores and cuts, or
wounds, it is almost a certain specific.
1t is even asserted now, that for flesh
wounds it is a prompt and perfect cure, or
prophylatic against erysipelas, that dread
monster that haunted the hospitals of both
sides during our recent war, and that
proved the death of so many brave men.
1t is to be hoped that this will be thor
oughly investigated, and, if it should
prove effectual in this terrible disease, that
the fact may be generally known. It is
already known that by applying either
crude or refined petroleum to flesh cuts or
other wounds, that all offensive suppura-
tion is checked or avoided, and that the
fissure speedily heals, apparently by " first
intention" 5H..
Petroleum in crude state is also Of
value for painting purposes. There are
two sorts of this article, the heavy or
fixed oil, usually in common use for lubri-
eating purposes, and the light and volatile
oil used for Illuminating. The latter only
is used for painting, and for outside work
is superior to any other oil, as well as fol
printing, or first coating, or stopping, in.
side work. The chief value of the oil foI
painting seems to be in the residuum, the
black pitchy substance left after distilling
the refined oil from it,. This residuum,
when spread out as paint, forms thin
surface, protecting the work from the air.
To prepare the oil for painting, it ought
to be about half distilled, thickening uI
what is left, or adding about pound o.
the residuum to gallon of common crude
volatile oil. To do this melt the residuun
carefully in a pot over stove--care being
taken against fire-gradually adding thir
crude oil to it. The mixture is not very
perfect, and the thick matter settles wher
cold, but it can be shaken or stirred W
when about to be used. The color O
course is nearly black, but not much more
so than the preparation known as boilet
linseed oil, which is considered the best O
all paint oils.
Of course this preparation is best for al
rough outside work, exposed to the ele.
nents. It-is superior for wagons, plow'
and all farmers implements, preserving
them effectually. For wood work, th,
best pigment as well as the cheapest. il
the common hydraulic cement, or watel
lime, costing about two or three dollars ,
barrel. 1t makes cool, pleasant grey OF
neutral tint, entirely different from th'
brown and chocolate colored earths, al
well as much cheaper than they are. i
must Of course be ground with the oil il
paint mill, as all other paints should be
At the present time petroleum thus pre-
pared for painting ought to be retailee
everywhere for not more than seventy -fv,
cents a gallon. As this is half the pric,
of linseed oil, as well as much better, i
ought to come into general use with tn,
public as an economical and most eficien
paint. 1t is well known to most painter
that white lead ground up in the common
or even boiled linseed oil, and applied t,
exterior board surface, soon rubs off lik,
whitewash upon the hand. The hydrauli
cement, ground in petroleum. seems Il
form a solid cement, or artificial stone
and at one year old shows no sign of rub
bing off. Mixed with sand and applied Il
leaky valleys between roofs, or arouns
chimneys, it soon becomes as hard q
stone. e6
We must take others as we find them