The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-06-06
Artlacinr Light t,
THE VARIOUS SUBSTANCES THAT HAVE BEEN
USED FOR ILLUMINATING PURPOSES.

THE VARIOUS SUBSTANCES THAT HAVE BEEN
USED FOR ILLUMINATING PURPOSES.
+ Professor Mallet, Of the University Of Vlr-
si1ia. leetured Yesterday afternoon ct the
Johns-Hopkins University on "Artiicinl
Light" IN all probability the first means
OF artificial light, he said, was flaming
brand thrown from blazing fire, and next
came torches Of pieces of wood and fatty
substances, which were gradually fashioned
with handles, and, as they diminished in
size, assumed the dimensions OF 4 candle.
Then came lamps for the combustion OF
liquid oils. We find that in China candles
and lamps were used alta time far anterior
TO the Oldest annals extant.. Candles, how
ever, were used to q far greater extent
than lamps, and We're made by dipping a
twisted stem Of dry grass several times into
fused vegetable oils, and then allowing the
cOatings to harden. Afterwards final out
side coating OF beeswaX was given, which
in turn was substituted by the beautiful
wax secured from IN insect belonging TO
the same. genus rs the cochineal. The
moulds were either of split bamboo, or else
hollow paper tube, which was afterwards
peeled of. The use Of lamps in China was
restricted in consequence OF the compara-
tive scarcity OF available iusible oils. The
use Of crude petroleum, too, was common
in China for long centuries before our time.
Wells were bored and regular supplies kept
up, but the modern art of refining was I'M
known. Lamps were more common than
candles in India because OF the abundance
OF vegetable oils. In Egypt olive oil was
the first used. In Greece and Rome olive
oil was burned in lamps, although said to
have been preceded by the use Of
candles. Candles. chiefly OF wax with
wicks of flax or papyrus, were used
by the early Christians. 1t was not until
the second century that talloW candles
were introduced. With the spread OF Chris
tianity the making Of candles spread, on
account OF their use in church ceremonies.
At the close Of the ninth century candles
were used by Alfred to measure time; but
this had been done long before, as it is even
yet, by, the Chinese. The earliest illGmina-
ting substance used in the north and west
OF Europe was the fat OF domestic animals.
In the twelfth century new element was
introduced. growing out OF whale-fiShing in
the Bay OF Biscay and its subsequent cx-
tensive extension to Arctic regions. AS far
back as the seventeenth century whale oil
was supplied to nearly all of Europe. For
many years past, however, the supply from
this source has been falling of. The cap
| lure OF seals has to some extent sup
planted whale fishery, but the use OF
| seal oil is confined almost entirely to
tanning. 1t was during the seventeenth
| century, towards the close, that the great
Russian tallow trade grew up. just at the
close of the eighteenth century the intro
duction OF Illuminating gas, made by distil-
lation Of coal, took place. In 1902 Mr..
Nundcll, in Cornwall, succeeded in light
ing his own house with such gas, and six
years later Bolton d Watt (the latter the
| introduccr OF the steam-eneinc) lighted
their factory at Soho with the gas. In 1910
it was first employed in London to light
one side Of Pail Mall. In 1915 it was in
PRODUCED into Paris. The most important
stimulus to cande-making was the lnven-
ton by Mr.. Boze in 1899 OF a process for
separating the stearine from the oleine,
and little later the discovery OF the
fatty acids by French chemist. Out of the
latter grew the manufacture Of glycerine,
which is found to more or less extent
in all animal fats. In 1854 the best method
OF all in candle-manufacture was patented
by Tilghman, of Philadelphia. The making
OF paratine candles by James Young began
in 1850. From 1910 to 1850 the mixture OF
turpeEtine and alcohol, known as camphine.
was in use. In 1859 the discovery OF the
immense petroleum wells Of Pennsylvania
caused revolution in the matter OF artiti-
cial illumination. The chief supply has
been and is from the United States, which
now exports between three hundred and
fifty and four hundred millions Of gallons 4
year. In 1860 metal magnesium was intro
duced, but the only important application
Of it besides for military purposes has been
its use to secure Photographs IN mines, tun-
nels, &c. The so-called calcium light was
used in the late war to illuminate Charles
ton harbor to prevent supplies reaching the
Confederate forces under cover of darkness.
The electric light for use in the streets OF
cities is now on trial in Paris. 1t has been
used effectively in the prosecution OF i'm
mense works where labor had to be carried
on at night, but there are difficulties in the
way OF bringing it into general usc.-.BaHi-
more american, An.