The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-04-28
some,hmg about ,korosenc.

safety which permits gross imposition
being practiced on the people, under the
name Of some non explosive compound
or some mixture Of coloring matter on
the pretense Of rendering dangerous oil
safe. Kerosene being our almost upiyerf-
al artificial illuminator, it may be Of
interest to the public to know bow kero-
sene itself, as a substance is Illuminated
by the light of science. The term kero-
sene, originated with the early mauuioc.
lures of the oil from coal but ts soon
as petroleum was discovered the manu-
facture from coal was suspended. Crude
petroleum as pumped from the eorth, Is
treated with acids and alkali which occa.
sion procpitate. thus separating somo
refuse ingredients, and then tho remaind.
er is submitted to the process OF disuialio8
There is known law that all funds
evaporate at different degrees Of temper
ature, aud 10 this compound petroleum."
when ready for dtstilation there exists
three kinds Of fluids, or in more appro-
pirate language there are three practical
gradations OF heat employed in tho
distilling process. The lowest degree Of
heat that enables evaporation to tako
place, obtains as q product when coDdeua-
cd, very light fluid callod gasoline.
the name being appropriate, because The
substance so nearly approximates gapo-
that is. but little artificial heat becomes
necessary to render it vaporous.
This gasoline is used in the arts ia ga
rous ways,and when refined by the chem.
list, it is used under The name of rhigolene
by our dentists and surgeons for minor
surgery, bring thrown on the parts IA a
spray which evaporates 20 rapidly as TO
even freeze the tissues, occssioang q l9Ck
of sensation or local anHstbesia This ia
the lichtest known fluid in existence The
heat Of the sun being sufficient 10 boil 't
aud it ignites at very low Temperature
and is extremely dangerous to handle
The term kerosolene is sometimes applied
to this first dlstillation. The second gfa-
dation Of heat on the increasing solls.
evaporates a fluid when condensed that
is called naphtha or beDzne, and when
reduced to a crystal is called napbihaiiue
or benzolne. This is used in the arts
also, for cutting gums, removing grease
and is submitted to chemical pToce l4
with other Ingredients Of the pctro.eu
and are manufactured in beautiful ar-
line dyes now SO popular with nearlY III
housewife. The supply Of uaph'ba is
so much above the demand, and Of less
COST that unprincipled dealers add 90 or
80 per cent. Of it to kerosene alta /.
/ leaves the manufacturers hands fer the
purpose Of increasing their weat'. Tia
| third gradation Of heat used ior disabling
obtains as a result our kerosene or burr
ing oil. The residue row left is scni-
solid substance and is called paraGlc
which, by pressure, separates m oil, from
the wax. The parafoe oil is chemically
treated and subjected to other maajpnla-
tions to supply the arts, and the wax is
manuiact rcd into par0dno candles.
Among the other products which aIe
formed by chemical affinity, after these
compounds are broken up by heat, wo vi l
mention ammonia in vast quantities, 0 /
for lubricating machinery, creosote, oar.
bolic acid and various other substances.
Kerosene being the most importan. corn.
pound for the consideration of the homo
circle, we desire to call your attention to
its pecuiarities much has been sad rel.
a,ivc TO the explosive nature of kero.ea-
and the lighter oils these liquids, as Il
quids, are never explosive, neither Is
there any gas that escapes from these ID.
quids and collects in the lamp abo7e iho
oil which is explosive. 1t is yap5t
that collects above tho oil 10 the lamp
that becomes dangerous, but this ya!o-
is not explosive unless mixed with air.
and when it does explode, it Is not due
to ignition from tho blaze or heat &C the
flame, but is a spontaneous combustion.
and then ignites the spilled oil whar5yc.
it may be. Much more nigh, be sail
relative to what condition would b9 mos,
favorable for this explosion to occur
but as its use is never admissible with
safety. it becomes moro important p.
know how to avoid its use. Pure koro-
sene, distilled at the right temperature
does not evaporize at the ordinary ,cu.
perature we keep our house, or by the
heat generated by burning; uaQd'da
in compound with kerosene will thus
naporize and become the instrument II
death at an unexpected moment
How are we to judge Of the safety o-
the article ? The enactment, both state
and national make the legal standard Of
its manufacture endure temperature oi
ll0' F., without ignitng. The test Is
simple and safe that all should rememncr
and try it. Fill pint bowl nearly full
of boiling water and cool it down with
cold water to 10 by your thermometer
and then pour a spoonful Of kerosene or
the water and apply lighted paper If
it takes fire lit cannot harm YOU the
article is dangerous to use. Should y,u
touch the paper to the oil, what adhere5
to the paper will burn, that as not tie
test but the oil on the water should
not take fire, lift is safe to use. kero-
sene at this standard of test is the only
safe oil for use, there is nothing better !,
and there is no human invention that
will stop the evaporation OF tue Light oils,
when brought into our warm rooms
Inc numerous patent hou'tA HN7i'U I'l"l
are perfectly safe for the use ot kcro.
sene, but positively dangerous when the
light oils are used, ior the cooler yapcr
tends to vacuum, and the atmosphere
will be forced into the chamber above
the oil, and by spontaneous combustion, 80
! any moment you are liable to make tas
acquaintance Of your early ANCESTOR
If any one loses baby Of the m.....
age of a week or so, its affected parent
think a verse or two of poetry I'm iI4
: hour of the event, is about the righ. tLil-
= to console the deeply interested public
| if member Of any society dies, the editor
7 is expected to write him a irst-cias o5it.
) uary, even though the dear deceased msy