The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1870-08-06
Inferior Kerosene-Perils Attending
its Use,

We publish a statement respecting the nature
of kerosene, the dangers attending its use, and
chemical tests made of the several brands of coal
oil best known to the public. 1t will be seen
that, out of ten tests, only two resulted in exhih-
iting oils which come within the standard oil
safety. Several approach it and the rest fall to
the grade of absolutely dangerous oils. In addi-
ton to the trials made here, we allude to results
of similar ones made in New York, at the instance
of the Board of Health, and which revealed the
fact of an equally great percentage of inferior
and dangerous brands of kerosene in that market.
The publication of these facts seemed necessary
in order to bring to the attention of the public
and the proper authorities, the urgent necessity
of taking some steps to protect the lives and
property of our people from compounds which,
though in daily and almost universal use, are as
dangerous as gunpowder.
Science has demonstrated that kerosene which
will not stand a fire test of 10 deg. Fahrenheit
contains so much volatile oil, or spirit, as to
render it absolutely unsafe for domestic purposes,
and the sad experience of many families proves
that the consumption of the inferior oil involves
a perpetual danger of fatal consequences. The
people of European cities and of several States
in the Union have been aroused to the necessity
of adopting stringent measures to prevent the
introduction and sale of kerosene which is inca
pable of bearing the established scientific test
aforementioned, but in this city, although there
have been many fatal explosions of coal oil lamps
and cans, and Notwithstanding a loss of property,
from the same cause, amounting to many thou
sands of dollars annually, there seems to have
always existed a degree of apathy totally incon-
sistent with a proIessed regard for the public
security. Retail dealers in coal oils which they
know to be far below the standard of safety have
enjoyed almost unbroken security in their dis
honest traffic by reason of this general Indifference,
and If they have ever experienced even a rebuke,
it was such as their consciences might administer
when some fresh homicide has been secretly laid
at their doors.
We think the time has come when the Board
of Health and the Supervisors, the Fire Commits
sioners and Insurance Underwriters should, in
imitation of the same authorities and organiza-
tions in New York and other cities, take this
matter into serious consideration, with a view to
deyising some plan by which life and property
may be protected against dangerous compounds
sold in the city and throughout the country under
pretence that they are genuine and safe coal oils.
The practice prevails here, not only of selling
kerosene imperfectly deprived of volatile spirits,
but of mixing the volatile oils which have been
distilled away with kerosene which is known to
be manufactured up to the required standard of
ITO deg. Fahrenheit. Again, some dealers place
inferior and dangerous oils in cans and casks bear
ing the stamp of safe and high-priced kerosene,
and sell it out at a large profit as the genuine
article. A striking illustration of this fact is
by the statement of tests in another
column. 1t will be seen that a sample of
oil, as imported, stood a test of 135
deg. Fahrenheit, while the two samples said to
be Of the same oil, and procured from retailers,
frauds, which effect not only the pockets but
even the limbs and lives of the people, there
ought to be some immediate and effective munich
pal legislation; some regulation by which the
system Of their continual preparation may be
broken up and destroyed.-BuHetin