The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-03-13
KEROSENE LAMP EXPLOSIONS.

Professor r. G. Kedzie, M. D., Presi-
dent of the State Board of Health of
Michigan and Professor in the State
Agricultural College, lately delivered
an address before the Michigan Legisla-
ture, in which he explained the manner
in which kerosene lamps usually ex-
plode, which practical hints should be
known to every one who has occasion to
use the article. Some persons seem to
think, he says, that the explosion of a
kerosene lamp is caused in the same
way as a boiler explosion-namely, by
the pressure of the vapor of the oil in
side the lamp. In rare instances explo-
sions may be caused in this way; for
example, where the ignited oil over
flows the lamp and the lamps enveleped
in fame. But explosions usually occur
in another way-namely, where the
vapor of kerosene is mixed in proper
proportions with air, and thus true
explosive mixture is formed which will
explode with the force of a gunshot
when fred by fame. This explains why
a lamp is in more danger of exploding
when only partially filled with kerosene,
because large amount of space is filled
with the explosive mixture; it is the
same rs larger load of powder in a
gun. Many persons suppose that there
can be no danger of lamp explosion
unless the whole body of the oil in the
lamp is heated to the flashing point; !;
that because the temperature of our
rooms never rises to one hundred and
twenty degrees, there can be no danger
in using oil whose flashing point is one
hundred and twenty degrees. But DR..
Baker, Secretary of the State Board of
Health, has proved by experiment with
lamps that an explosive mixture may
form and the oil may explode while the
body of oil in the lamp is not above
eighty-fve degrees Fahrenheit. The
temperature of the body of oil in the
lamp is not the only factor to be con-
sidered, because different parts Of the
lamp become very unequaily heated
If you will touch the brass collar of a
lamp which has been burning some time
you will find it quite hot, and the tube
supporting the wick is still more strongly
heated. The formation of vapor will
be determined by the hottest part of the
the lamp which comes in contact with
the oil. When the combustion is inn
perfect from any cause, the brass fittings
of the lamp become excessively heated
DIR. Baker found in his experiments tha
! when the chimney was removed by
breaking or otherwise, and the lamI
continued to burn, the temperature O.
the brass collar rose very rapidly il
every instance; in one case in fourteen
minutes it rose to one hundred ant
sixty-one degrees, and in another cas-
in ten minutes to one hundred and fifty
five degrees Fahrenheit. In this las
instance very rapid explosions occurre'
by the side of the wick, and to proven
the whole lamp from exploding the ligh
was extinguished. In none of thes
experiments did the temperature of tn
body of the oil rise above eighty-fv
| degrees Fahrenheit. Many persons O
| leaving room "turn down the lamp
to save oil, but such economy is yer
{ liable to cause lamp explosion, whic
is anything but economical. l know {
, a case in Charlotte which illustrates th
: danger of this practice. A lamp in
store was turned down in the absence
the clerk; person passing saw tt
v lamp explode, and by promptly breal
a ing open the store he extinguished tt
r fire. If light is not needed in roor
n either extinguish the lamp or leave
s burning with the usual blaze.