The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-01-19

From these figures twill be seen that not one Of
these samples, selected at random throughout
The city, which are all that were tested is OF o
good quality, which may be called safe.
The only single specimen Of safe oil on the
entire list is No. 20, which is manufactured ut the
extensive works of Downer, In Boston, and which
obtained from that city by the hands Of a friend
When camphene and burning huid were in extern
live use, and produced such frequent accidents
we could not blame the manufaclu rers, as il was
not possible 10 make these preparations Of tur-
pentine safe. But every retner can send per-
iectly safe kerosene to market II he chooses he
may make il stand fire 81 ITO degrees F., lZO de-
grees F., 1870 degrees F., or any other tempera-
tuIe he may elect-it ia merely question OF
few cents, more or less, per gallon. Con
sumers should understand that In demanding the
cheapest oil they compel the refner TO sapply
them with mixture of benzne ana Kerosene.
ompetition is irresistible aad if the price s run
down below cost adulteretion must follow. II il
a source of qualification TO know that Bonner, of
Boston, has one Of the most extensive reiperies
10 the country be is able TO make perfectly
safe OIL charge higher price for It and sell all
that be can make. Who would hesitate q pay
FIVE ten or fifteen cents per gallon for the differ
ence between an oil which is perfectly safe aud
one which is liable 20 destroy ones vile or child
rem at any moment by most horrd death {. The
first sample on the list No. one, contains So per
cent. of gasoline above 20 deg. B.. 40 per reut.
nsphtba above SO deg. B., and only 10 per cent OF
luminaTy oil. Ii would be safer 10 have CUR pow
der in one g lamp, because that substance would
remain quite out of the way of fire. but thissOil is
80 volatile that il seeks the flame of It's. own
accord.
Even TIE eighth sample contains 20 per cent. of
beuzDe the eighteenth sample 30 per cent. the
Thirty sixth sample 6 per cent, and no sample,
rave Dovner's, less than per cent Of this dan
gerous liquid.
The results of this examination will. think. be
sufficiently startling TO interest the members of
your honorable body in the speedy enactment OF
suitable laws for the protection of the poorer
classes who are not supplied with gas, and are
consequently dependent on the honesty Of the re-
fners and retailers of kerosene.
There is only one plan by which the safety of
the public can be insured, that is by the enact
neDt Of stringent laws, compelling the refners to
remove these dangerous substances from the ke-
rosene, and inficting heavy penalties upon those
who are reckless enough to endanger the lives OF
innocent purchasers.
proper inspection of the kerosene Sold made
under the authority of the Board Of Health, would
prove sufficient TO enforce such law.
For the purpose Of registration, the retailers
should be required to procure licenses from the
board.
The sale Of dangerous Oil should be followefby
conhscation, loss OF license, and. perhaps, fine.
The investigation is not yet completed, as the
study OF the lamps IN which il Is burned Is in
progress. In fact it Is only by study of the
lamps that We can decide upon proper standards
for the oil.
/ shall, therefore, have the honor 10 present at
an early day a further report upon the lamps de-
signed for burning kerosene oil.
G.. +. CHANDLER, Pr. D..
Chemist TO the Metropolitan Board Of Bealtli.
New York, January III, 1869.