Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1871-03-10

at temperatures below 9O0. One speci
men of heavy oil, adulterated will
benzine, flashed at 28o. Thirty-sevel
specimens were of q quality which tn,
| Massachusetts law requires to b,
branded unsafe for Illuminating pur
poses"
A lamp was filled with oil from No
~ Of the table, lighted, and allowed Il
burn for two hours; upon being pur
pOsely permitted to fall and be broken
the whole mass of oil instantly tool
fire.
Lamps filed from Nos. /, 2. 3, anG
S, when allowed to fall and break
burst into flame, and when water was
poured on the flame, the oil con-
tinued to burr until entirely con-
sumed.
Two specimens, No. 80 Virginia
brandy and No. % tDowners DILL, were
experimental with in the same man.
ner. The wick continued to burn, but
the oil did not take fire, and could not
be Lit, though tried repeatedly. This
would be the result with any oil whose
1fiashing point" is ll0o and upward.
An oil whose flashing point is 110o
does not itself take and burn till its
temperature is raised to about 1852
Fab.
The Board express the belief that
the admixture of light oils Is very gen.
eral, and add that this mixing of
heavy oil and naphtha may be done
by persons ignorant of the rapid and
great deterioration which is affected by
adding small portions of naphtha to
an excellent high fire-test Gil Their
experiments prove that good oil is rap
idly contaminated and rendered dam
gerous by the addition of small por-
tons of benzine, and if burned in
lamps of brittle material or bad con-
struction, continually exposes to acct
dent those who use il.
The following observations are
worthy the consideration of all con-
sumers of such oils:
There is probably more danger of
explosion o: a lamp or can containing
q mixed oil than of one containing
pure benZine, because the latter evolves
yapor with such rapidity, as in most
cases, Immediately and permanently
to expel all atmospheric air from the
vessels containing it, although this
volatility adds to the danger of fire.
Those using coal oil, can, by simple
means. protect themselves from the
toorst oil. Pour into a cup or saucer
a Tablespoonful or tao Of the oil to be
and apply an ordinary
match, lighted. II the oil does not take
fire it may still be an unsafe oil; but II
IL does take fire, the oil is u uery dan
ycrous one. 1t is necessary to remind
the crperimenter that great care must
be used in so simple a matter as this
seems, as the flame may communicate
by vdpor or otherwise to vessels contain
ing bad oils, and gire rise to fire and
pc, sonaL accident.
The report for 1870 gives tabulated
list of thirty-fOur explosions, which
occurred during the year in New Or
leans. BY these explosions seven fe-
males and one man were burned to
death. and twenty persons more or less
burned, of whom the greater number
were women, some of whom were dis
figured for life.
The names of the oil with which ex-
plosions occurred are given a. follows:
purOIinc, black diamond,
sunlight, scptotine, anchor oil, etc.
Our readers viii now see the force of
our warning them to beware of fan
cy Names" given in a recent article
entitled Kerosene Murder"
The Board complete their report, by
a draft of a law, two excellent prOvi-
sions of which are: that persons SELL
ing oils not UP to the prescribed stand
ard shall not be able to collect pay for
the same by legal process, and that
they shall be liable to pay fer all dam
ayes resulting from the Use o. such oils
for Illuminating purposes, with
costs of suit for the recovery of the
sane.
We would not be understood as
meaning to say that all oils sold under
fancy names are essentially bad. There
are notable exceptions, of which we
NAV mention Pratt's Astral OIL" an
article which we have used for several
wears, and found to be excellent in all
respects. Moreover, we have never
heard of an accident arising from its
use. The adoption of this name, how
ever, might raise doubts in the minds
of purchasers who have been cheated
by other fancy names. and as we know
such doubts have no foundation in re-
gard to this particular oil, it is but just
to make an exception i'm its favor.