The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-12-15
BY DR. NJ. MASON.

AS an article of commerce, there is
nothing that contributes more to the
prosperity of the commonwealth than
does this article, and the varied uses of
this, and the many products by its de.
composition in their binary and ternary
association, will ell the reflections with
wonder and astonishmeut. No one can
fully understand the merits of this arti-
Gle Of commerce and its various uses
until he is acquainted with its constitu-
ont elements; what they are, and how
they are separated. | will here en-
deavor to give an epitome Of itsanalyss,
which will in the main be correct ac.
cording to the experiments Of the day
in which we live.
There are Two hundred and forty
Eve varieties of coal, but the most i'm.
portant of these for all uses is the Can
mel or Candle coal. It's constituents are
carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen,
potash aud trace sulphur. This coal
IS very firm compact substance of a
s.aty appearance, of a brownish black
color, and susceptible of Il very fine
polish; is used by many for the fabri
cation Of ornaments, such as car drops,
finger rings, bracelets, &c, aud is much
esteemed by many. But | must not
diverge from my subject, the analysis
Of coal. This coal is fractured into
small detachments and placed in q dry
retort, varied in form, but commonly re.
rembling az immense cast iron Jug, to
which is attached an iron tube coiled in
the ordinary manner of still worm.-
This worm or tube passes through
cooling mixture which condense the
gases as they pass over. After the coal
is put III the retort a gentle heat is then
lie; on, and by this means the elements
Of the coal are forced to relinquish their
former state of equilibrium aud associa.
:ion and seek an affinity elsewhere,
forming new compounds, or new bodies.
This is due to three causes lst, tempera-
tare, Cd, the degree of chemical affinity
amongst the elements themselves, being
in many instances increased by elcctrive
action, and thirdly, by their volatility
Oxygen and hydrogen are very volatile,
while carbon is not. There is tenden
q in oxygen and hydrogen to pass off
u the form of gasses, but chemical af
fnity obliges both to unite and form
compounds, partly with each other, and
partly together, or simply with carbon.
Hydrogen aud oxygen, if not interlerod
with, unite and form water, which is
composed Of equal volumes Of these
two gases or by weight as one is to eight.
hydrogen being the lighter Of the two.
The excess OF hydrogen takes up az
much carbon as the temperature admits
81 and forms Olefant Gas; Carburetted
md Bicarburettod hydrogen-while the
united action Of the other elements upon
the carbon gives rise to the other ternnry
compounds; these will endeavor TO
describe one by one az they pass over
from the still. Any one familiar with
chemistry knows that this process al
,nits of the formation of an endless series
Of bodies; their number depending
wholly upon the different causes of sep
arstion, and combination. There are
over 800 chemicals that are used in the
arts which are formed from tho distilla-
ton of this coal. many of them almost
indispensable. The principle of these
I will name that pass directly from the
till.
The first that passes over is Naptha,
very light, volatile and highly inAam.
able oil, burning with white flame
when pure is used to dissolve the resins
in the formation of varnishes, and.thDs
supercedes the use of Turpentine; it is
also used to dissolve India rubber, j. is
used in the formation of many volatile
liniments, this with Morphine, Chloro.
form and the oil of Cajeput, enters into
all of those wonderful preparations, such
az Wizard oil, Ready Relief, Instant
cure Of pain, Pain Panacea, &C.
Naptha is used in the distillation of
Roses and other things to extract their
perfumes and to cleanse fabrics from
tesinous agglutInations; it is used to
ro-c. 81 I V,iaht on