The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1871-03-04
Tire Aduteratlon OF Petroleum.

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The systematic adulteratfon of petroleum
is a constantly increasing evil, and one
that demands immediate reform. 1t is
high time fiat the attention Of the police,
Of the fire department. and Of the press,
vas concentrated upon the discovery of a
f1l and speedy remedy. The enormous
manufacture of naptha as hn Incidental pro-
dnct.y for which there is little demand,
offers a great temptation to dealers in pc
troieum to increase their profits by the ad-
mixtIre Of the dangerous ether; and the
lax STATE IF our laws. and the carelesSness
Of the Insurance patrol, tend to perpetuate
an evil that ought not to be tolerated for e
moment in any we'll regulated and civilized
community.
What can be done to prevent the dan
gerous adulteration Of refined petroleum, is
i question Of the utmost importance to all
who burn it as an illuminating material.
Unfortunately, most of the regulations
adopted by the police, or by the Leg'sla-
tnre, have thrown ilnpedimeHts in the way
OF trade, without producing any good re-
81 It's. The authorities are III the habit
ofreprescnting petroleum as 4 highly in
fammable and dangerous substance, when,
in fact, the refined article, free from nap
tha, is scarcely more dangerous than sperm
oil. The storage OF large quantities Of
petroleum in the business portions Of cities,
has been prohibited under severe penalties,
and these regulations have been prepared
as if petroleum were gunpowder. The idea
seems to prevail that the refined article is
Just as explosive as the crude, while 1T is
really less %infammable than alcohol, about
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rules are laid. Alcohol takes fire the mo-
ment o burning match is applied to it;
properly refined petroleum does not ignite,
does not flash, as it is called, until it has
been heated up to 100 or 1lO deg. Fan.
Alcohol more readily evolves combustlble
vapors well refined petroleum forms Meth
err gases nor vapors, and evaporates, even
when exposed in shallow vessels, very
slowly, and In the summer does not occa-
sion the formationE Of explosive gas mix
lures ; in fact, it is not n"arly so dangerous
as We are ia the habit Of suspecting.
Throwing obstacles in The way of its sale
does not appear to be the best measure to
prevent accldea is. IF the authorities, in
the interest Of the public, are willing TO
take the matter in hand, it will not be
difficult to suggest d remedy. 1t will only
be necessary to make a distinction between
a safe and a dangerous petroleum, and to
publish a single test, by the use of which,
This point can be easily settled. The tax
ing Of che specific gravity Is worthless, be-
cause the adulteration by the lighter naptha
can be disguised by the addition Of heavy
oil. The. color aud odor are also not to be
relied upon.a The only reliable test is the
temperature at which the petroleum takes
fire when a burning match is applied to its
surface. The test can be easily applied.
Into a fat dish or saucer, pour the OIL to
be tried, until It is at least half an inch
deep; then hold a burning match or taper
near the surface. At the point of contact
the combustion is often very lively, as the
taper draws up some of the liquid, but if
The petroleum be safe and free from naptha,
the flame does not spread over the surface.
IF the petroleum has been adulterated, as
soon as the match touches the surface a
blue lambert fame flashes across it, and in
a few moments the body of the oil will be
on fire. Such an oil is dangerons-Iiable
to exp, ode II lamps, and to give off infam-
mable vapors at all times. Any oil which
takes fire when a match is held near its
surface, and continues to burn, ought to be
condemned at once and thrown info the
streets. We lay some stress upon this ex-
pertinent, because we have actually SEN o
country merchant pour petroleum into a
saucer and ignite it in this way as a proof
that it was not dangerous.
There is no doubt whatsoever that all of
the accidents can be traced to adulterated
and worthless petroleum. The pure article
never explodes in lamps, even when they
are filed at night, with a candle by their
side; but it is never safe to try this expert
mept, as we cannot rely upon the quality
of the oil we buy. The sale Of petroleum
containing naptha ought to be stopped at
oil hazard, and if police officer were de-
Tailed to walk up and down before the
store to warn all customers of danger, and
the names ofthe inauitons tradesmen were
TO be publicly posted, and heavy fines were
10 be imposed, the great loss Of life and
property that has been occasloned by this
Refarious business would Justify the severity
Of the measures adopted to repress The evil.
We need some stringent laws on the sub
jcet, and after they are passed, let them be
npfnrnnd trtfTonS faar 1.. raror rCo;ort;6o