The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1869-01-28

From flour TO whisky, from milk to Pc
ruvian bark, there is none perfect-no, not
one Adulteratiop, admixture, impurity,
these all are proved against whatsoever we
eat or drink, or wherever that we vindi-
cate ourselves. They form part of our
pomades and perfumes, and they infect
the subtle powder, by whose means the
cheek and brow of beauty conceal the raw
ages of time. One other disclosure is
needed, and then we shall learn that silks
and wOolens, cottons and linens. are adul-
terated, and that short measure is by no
means uncommon, if not with the retailer,
at least with the manufacturer, who stamps
the number of yards upon the original
packages.
The last assault is made upon kerosene
oil, that lovely compound which illumi-
mates so many households and whose va
garies have "put out the light by many
happy ireside This is the familiar peril
of the day. The pioneer is safer on the
Indian frontier, and the powder magazine,
into which the careless laborer enters with
lighted pipe, is more secure than the
hearthstOne Oh which the glare of the
kerosene falls Professor Chandler has
submitted to the Board Of Health the
analysis ot seventy eight samples of kero-
stores about the CITY. a seVenty-ninth
sample was procured from the Boston
manufacturer, Donner, and was tie Ohty
safe OH on tic list Professor Chandler
says that every refiner can send per-
| fectly safe kerosene TO market ii he
chooses he may make it stand fire at ITO
degrees f., 120 degrees F., 130 degrees
| F., or any other temperature he may Sc
| lect; it is merely question OF few
cents, more or less per gallon.
And here comes the consumer with his
| desire to buy cheap. Competition is ex-
hlbited, and cheap oil is made, which is
adulterated to the last degree The cost
| of good oil is not much more than that
of poor one. Professor Chandler IL
ouircs if any one would hesitate TO pay
| five, ten, or fifteen cents per gallon for the
difference between an oil which is per
| fectly safe, and one which is liable to de-
stroy ones wife or children at any mo-
ment by most horrible death. And "a
| to the poor oil so commonly sold, he says
| il would be safer to have gunpowder IN
ones lamp, because that substance would
remain quite out of the way of fire, but
this oil is so volatile that it seeks the flame
of it's own accord.
The Professor recommends the enact
ment of stringent laws compelling the re-
finers to remove dangerous substances
from their kerosene, and inficting
heavy penalties upon those who are
reckless enough to endanger the lives
of innocent purchasers. Retailers of kero-
sene he would have licenced by the Board
of Health.
There is an easy test of the quality of
kerosene, and that is to find its burning
point" which should not be below 1l0
degrees Fab This fine test may be made
by applying lighted match to little OF
the oil contained in a cup or saucer, and II
it can be made to take fire it should becon-
sidered at once as unsafe-eyen though
the experiment be made in one Of the
| hottest days of summer. Should IT not
take fire, it might still be dangerous oil,
| as safe oil must not evolve com oustioie
vapor below 100 degrees Fahrenheit Ex-
nQrimenters should understand that great
care is necessary in applying this test
| Neso York Commercial AdoertfssT.