Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1880-07-10
Kerosene.

have elapsed since kerosene became Common
meaIs Of artil ,ial Illumination. so much igro.
| rarc, prevails as to ts use qualities and dan
gers. There is no meaos OF prodaciog artii.
Gil light that is 50 extensively used, and yet
there arc waOkly-almost daily-rtcords of
pai1!u; aad sometimes fatal accidents from its
explosion, from its use for kirdne, or from the
improper combusiioo Of its gases. Kerosene is
a concentrated hydro.c 4rbon. and with an 10
sufhc!crt supply Of oxygen it gives eff. vixen
lighted, largo volumes, Of hydrogen and CIR
bopo ncij gases, both inmicsl to health. aud
when 10 sahoicnt quantity, fatal to- life. Kero-
scrcc cannot bo properly burned 10 an open
lamp.
10 the ordinary lamp a chimney is added,
which rr,i cts several inches above the fame,
:hc hight OF tho Chimney being regulated by
The amount Of toe flld buroed, or tho sz, OF
the tstne. The object OF this chimney is not to
prevent The fame from firing or to hinder it
rom belog bloWo ont by gust, but is simply
to lnduoo the necessary amount Of ex7gen to
make pertcs combustion. Oa lighting the
lamp tho glass chimney is almost Instantly
heated, inducing an upward current of air
which rushcs 10 through the network OF the
perforated baso Tho oxygen 10 the atmcs
phor!c current feeds tho flame, cousumts the
carbon and Induces brilliant light. With such
Dcrtrc; combustion the US, Of kerosene in our
DIV lIiogs is entirely harmless. if sufficient
supply 0! atmospheric air is provided
But there are plenty Of Instances of imperfect
cimbastiou aud cons; qucDt injury. 1t is easy
10 detect this if. on cntericg lighted room
from out Of doors or an al oinios lighted room,
the atmosphere ;s oppressive, or tho peculiar
smcll OF carbonic acid gas is perceived. it is GER
tain 10 this clso that there is imperfect combus-
'lon and improper uso OF KEROSENE. This is
produced by turolng down the wick-a most re-
prehcoslblo prac:icc-or allowing it to smoke
from being turred too high This latter fault,
however, is tho moro easily remedied because
lis effects are instantly visible.
A sreak Of dull fame and a discharge of
thick snake nppeas at orc, to tho eye; but
when The lamp is turned down 90 visible sign
tells Of the viliation tf tho atmosphere that is
gciug 90, nod as tho lungs and the nerves of
| smelling become gradually accustomed to tho
| carbonlc acld and bydrogeu, the occupants of
the room sometimes do not detect the trouble
and attribute their sense OF las;itudc to weari.
ness end their headache to a cold. Tho fac. is
| appar2nt however to one who comes io front
VI tHO CuSSk oil llulu u lUUu HuClC lUO dtuUSe
phcre is impure. Tho presenc, oil these unseen
| gases Of unseen combustion mean the preserce
cf headache, vertigo, aud, if sleeping and un-
conscious. they mean death.
Tho trouble with the turned down lamp is
tGat Whllo the ,me heats the burning oil Just
enough TO disangsgo its comp: unded gases OF
| cirbon!c scd aud hydrogen il does not heat
oncugh to induce the proper supply cf oxygen
| TO Consume them, aud they arc left to poison
and sa!ura!o tho air Of tho entire room Yet
| thern is q 2rest temptation to those cornshuck
souls who have no sentiments above 3 cent t.
| save the cheapest pnrchssable material in the
market at the risk Of health and life. There are
| iaw kerosene lamrs in the market which arc
| properly constructed From tho variety o
clmneys used varying from broad double, sau.
like domc to straight, narrow cylinder, il
| would appear that lamp mskors imagined that
tais most essential portion Of the lamp WAS SIM
| ply subject OF Whim or taste.
| There bro lanterns for burning kerosene that
| arc SO imperfect in combustion that they poison
| the air Of u largo room in few minutes. The
form OF cnmney Dlust certainly set the burn
| ing OF the OIL There is great difference be-
tween u lsttenad dome Of eight inches in diam
| eter and u straight cylinder of one aud ha
| il hes diameter, not alone in form, but in ca
pAcitY as chimueys. albeit their nights above
the base nsy be the Same. 1t would seem thai
the construction OF the kerosene burning lsmp
should be elevated from the rut of merely
mechanical skill anil unrcaeonig fsrcy to tha
scientific investigation and practical value.