Evening star., 1869-02-04
AN IMPORTANT NATTER.


Ld,tor Star We belong TO the enighted
class who have not gas in their dwelling
houses. For years We have used kerosene oil,
and so far we have met with no accident; n
has afforded us good Hgh, at trifiing cost
and we have been inclined to sing its praises
The frequent announcements in .he newspa-
pers of accidents arising from its use we have
passed by, attributIng them TO the carelessness
OF me sufferers, and hattering ourselves that
win our habits Of caution we are in no dan
ger. Late events have rather shaken this con-
hdence, the explosion of a lamp in New York
having led 10 pretty general testing of the oil
IN use there, with the result that the great ma
Joriiy Of the specimens SO tried were pro-
bounced mfiammable and dangerous. 1t is not
pleasant TO sit IN fear and trembling around the
evening lamp, and We hailed with gratitude
the publication OF a simple means OF proving
The purity OF The oil in the Journal Of ChemtS,ry
for december. DIR. Nichols says:
The error must not prevail that kerosene
oil OF 1egat standard Will ignite or burn if q
lamp containing IL is broken. Good oil, such
As should be used in families, Will exunguish
fame when brought in contact with IL. OH
heated to the usual point when burning in a
lamp in tue evening, should extinguish a
lighted match when thrust into it.'' ri beg the
reader not 10 Try that experiment firsi. If the
reader IS using In his family uaadulterated
thrust in lighted taper, he may turn it out
upon the floor and apply the flame. and il will
not take fre nor explode. Standard kerosene,
We wish TO state Is iSs safe
would be great misfortune, to the Door especi.
ally, to have the erroneous idea prevail that
all kerosene Is dangerous. A cheap light is too
great a blessing TO be deprived Of through unjust
prejudice. tits only the wretched adnlterated
oils, the naptha hulda that are daneerous.
We repeat, at the request Of q new sUbscri.
Der. tne test OF keroseas IS published In the
bowl, MI II third full Of boiling water,
now add cold water, little at a time. nm tiI a
taermometer placed in II indicates tempera-
OF the OIL to be tested may be turned into tne
water and stirred about with the tAermometsr
1t VIII hoat on the top, and IL my Be touched
with lighted match or bit Of paper. II 1t
1enites or takes lire the oil 10 dangerous, and
the United States"
So far the Journal Of Chemistry. 1t seemed an
non.expIosive and safe we would be md OF an
uncomfortable suspicion. i resolved to try 1t.
This morning when trimming the lamps
work very carefully; followed the directions
accurately, and applied the lighted match. In
an instant the oil burst into flame, and con.
rinued blazing for several minutes. waited
till it went out. then tried a second experiment
on nv own account, with the water at Q temp.
erature Of less thaa one hundred degrees, and the
salne result followed; the Oil we have thought
adulterated fluids" which may lead 10 mischief
at any moment pleasant reflection as sit
writing BY its hight.
1 write THIS slmpiy because II Is a matter OF
serious moment, for multifudes OF families in
Washington are using tonight this same oil,
purchased from the grocer who sold il 10 us.
Most likely he is In perfect ignorance of Its ma
ture, rs they undoubtedly are. IL 10 but com.
mon humanity TO give word of warniag.
Will the readers Of Tue STAR who use ker.
oseine oil apply the test for themselves, and II
any ;of them are so fortunate as to fnd
that theirs is NOT infiamable state where il Is
TO be bought! BY so doing they may deprive
the columns OF the daily papers Of q few items
regarding the burning OF houses, OF men,
women. and children, and oblige at least one
Washington, Feb. ,, 1859. READER.