Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-09-14
Oil In BGilers.

DR.. Jentz made the following statement
as an answer to q communication OF DR.
Morgan, relative to the oily water in the
boilers at the West Virginia oil
wells:
About twenty five years ago, while DR.
Jentz was practicing chemistry in Phila
delphia, an extensive fire occurred in tina,
Guy. Among the buildings destroyed
were two containing oil and saltpeter
When the buildings had partially fallen,
many explosions occurred among the
ruins, creating such CONSERVATION among
the firemen that they refused TO approach
the buildings again, and merely devoted
their efforts TO prevent the spread of the
flames. These explosions caused consid-
cradle speculation among scientific men.
And so much interest was taken in the
subject by the public that the City Coun-
ellis Of Philadelphia were induced TO offer
large reward for the solution OF the
mystery. DR.. Jentz made experiments
with saltpeter and water at first without
success. He then began experimenting
with oil and water, when he discovered
that the explosions at the fire were un'
doubleday caused by the heated walls fall
ing into the oil and water in the base
rnent of the building. This he explains
as follows: When oil becomes attached
TO any object hot enough TO produce a
combustion, gas Is generated; and unless
this gas has room TO expand, an explosion
will surely follow. Before the doctor had
concluded his Investigations, and had
noted the chemical changes through
which the oil must pass previous to reach.
ing the explosive point, he came to New
York and resumed the practice of medi-
cine. He did not publish his discovery,
because, though confident on the subject
himself, he could not make 1t clear to
others without further investigation.
At the time these experiments were
made petroleum had not been discovered,
and the oil used was common iubricating
oil, such as is still used on machinery, and
the careless use Of which, the Doctor
claims, has caused many boiler explosions
which have apparently been involved in
mystery. Water, he says, in boiling, as
cends from the center and descends At the
sides of the boiler, and oil floating On the
surface will be carried down with the cur
rent If the inside of the boiler be oxy.
died or sealed, some portions Of the oil
are likely to be caught by these scales and
iron and the oil come in direct contact,
and the former is hot enough to cause the
combustion Of the oil, an explosion must
follow. The Doctor also claims that water
has no explosive power. II . boiler Is
subjected TO greater pressure Of steam
than it will bear, It viii burst. generally
at its weakest point, the steam will rush
out people may get scalded, but no such
explosion as that ON the Westfield could
be caused by steam alone. On the other
hand, explosions caused BY oil will take
place at the point where combustion takes
plaes, whether 1t 10 the weakest point or
not. The vessels the Doctor used in his
were open on top, with moth
ing but lid laid loosely over them, yet
when the oil exploded they were burst In
fragments, and scattered In every direc-
ton. The Doctor will immediately re-
sumo his experiments, and a. soon q his
apparatus u completed, he claims that he
can demonstrate 70 the most simple mind,
hat one simple drop Of oil viii explode
The heaviest boileT.