Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-03-16
For the Journal
How Shall We Light our DMeIlingsl

The public mind is more than usually drawn To
the consideration of this question from yarious
causes. lst The frequent and fearful accidents
reported in every paper we take in hand, so often
causing the destruction Of an immense amount OF
property and causing such terrible suffering and
so many agonizing deaths %. The introduc-
ton of other articles than kerosene under INC
name of Magic Oil, Patent Compound, Non-ex-
plosive fluids, &C., &C. These latter compounds
are vendcd from house to house, by persons whose
knowledge Of philosophy and chemistry is ire
qucnty as deficient as their knowledge oil the
dangerous articles they sell to unsuspectlng house
keepers. Various experiments, having on the
face n show of severe test Of the nOn-explosNencs'
Of these compounds or oils are made IN the
presence Of all interested. and because can OF
jug or cask or lamp is not blown up in the trial
the unsuspecting and ncoutious are at once CON
vinced that the new oil 80 is perfectly safe in The
hands Of their children and families To the sci-
cntfc observer, however, there lisa doubtremain-
ing. That there is no explosion when exposed Ia
the air and unconfnod, is evident But whether
or not when confined and heated gas is produced
that is as explosive as gunpowder, is the question
with them. Many families have used these CONE
pounds with the feeling that they have obtained
an article that is far safer than kerosene and have
re eycd no injury therelrom while the conf
dence ofothers is greatly shaken. Recently there
have been Developments which show concusiyeN
that in the hands Of the multitude, these oils,
Of whatever name, are far from safe Within ,
few DAYS numerous instances have come % Ugh
(rery light y where the entire contents of Che
lamps suddenly have become ignited, and instant
| ly burst forth in a volume of flame. 40 the ln-
stitute at Barre, some four or five of the hall
| lamps, inasnge evening sentlortha Hood oflight
scattering chimueys, globes and fright anon.
the scholars promscu0usly The flames shot ul
TO the ceiling like torch, and the fluid inside Che
lamps was all on fire. There being no very com
| bustible material near. no fire was communicate
to the building and the flames were extinguishcd
! I'VE lcaru that the trustees have since remove,
this Naptha fluid from the Barre Institute.
Many other similar cases have occurred within
short time, and we most earnestly recommend q
the trustees Of that school, and to tine providers
light in families the careful consideration of rea
5sAiNAN HAlA NN1uNAN hA WIS NV MATERNAL ~ "
want in common use an article which will burr
at so low temperature, and which is soyoatil
As to form highly inaamabIe gas, whether cS
plosiye or not, when that temperature is -lightl
raised above the surrounding atmosphere
That explosion can take place from it is Quc-
ton yet to be solved. That any extremely unsai
burning out Of the contents Of the lamp may, am
has in many instances, taken place, is no longer
matter Of doubt. Whether 1t be Wileys CON
pound, or any other formed from Naptha, salt an
camphor, with few other additions having ltt
or no real effect upon the Naptha, the fact sol
remains Danger from fire, il not from expb
sion, is imminent.
, At best, we consider it but matter of cont
not dollars, n the point of saving cost for ana %
binary family light for a mouth Is itsaic to ru
this risk for those ctHfs? r. d.