Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-10-02
PERILS OF KEROSENE.
Protection in the Use Of Illuminatins
Oils,

Protection I'm the Use Of illuminating
Oils.
Prof. j. K. Macomber, of the Iowa
Agricultural College has issued an in
structive pamphlet on the dangerous IL
Illuminating oils.
The whole matter lies in nut shell.
Petroleum or rock oil is the natural pro-
duct as it comes from the earth. It is q
mixture of number of oils, some very
volatile, some moderately volatile. To
fit it for use, the very volatile oil must
be removed, by process called refining.
These very volatile oils are gasoline.
naptha, benzine; they are the dangerous
elements; when thoroughly removed
only the safe kerosene remains. They
are the gunpowder which explodes, kerr
osene is the cartridge paper, that only
burns. The problem of safety, there
fore, is solved by thorough removal of
the volatile oils.
But gasoline and naphtha are them
selves often used for illumination. They
are villainously dangerous-iust that
and nothing less. The most horrible
household accidents reported in our
newspapers are gasoline explosions.
explosions arising III connection with
the stoves and lamps made to burn this
liquid. Gasoline is the gunpowder that
has been removed from the cartridge to
make it safe to burn yet here we find
people burning this gunpowder itself
In addition to the lamps and stoves, an
other source of danger is that gasoline
for supply must be kept stored some
where in the house. Now the slightest
leak IN the can or other storage vessel
will permit the extremely volatile vapor
to escape into the air, where lighted
match or lamp will instantly explode il.
There are three grades of naphtha in
the market. A light grade is called
benzine. Naphtha is as dangerous as
gasoline. If lighted lamp containing
this substance breaks, the entire room
will be filed with flame in an instant.
When good kerosene retails at Is to 80
cents gallon, and naphtha can be pur-
chased st IL to IL cents gallon by the
dealer, the temptation to adulterate is
very great; and adulteration cheats the
purchaser by giving him fluid not only
dangerous to burn, but also of far less
Illuminating power.
Do not imagine because you have an
honest grocer that you are safe. He did
not refine the kerosene he probably
did not buy it direct from the refner.
The only protection is to make simple
experiment. yourself. It is perfectly
safe. We quote Prof. AIacomber's
directions.
"With q little care any one can test q
specimen of oil, and determine whether
it is fit for use. A common thermome.
ter, tea cup, saucer and a little warm
water include the apparatus needed.
First, remove all objects from the table
which are infammable. Put some boil
ing water in the tea cup, and gradually
pour in cold water until its temperature
is about AZ degrees. Pour little oil on
the warm tsnter, and stir we'll until the Oil
has the same temperature as the water.
Light match and move it quickly two
or three times over the surface of the
oil. Do not hold it still a moment. The
test is for the purpose Of determining
the presence of infammable vapors above
the liquid. Finally plunge the match
quickly into the oil. If it does not ig-
mite, the oil is all right. If it lights,
reject it as below the standard and dam
gerous. To extinguish the oil when
lighted, place the saucer over the tea
cup. If the oil is suspected to be very
bad, pour little on water at about sixty
or seventy degrees. IF it contains naph-
tina or gasoline, it will ignite hemoment
a match comes over it, and will burn
furiously. Again, pour a little good
kerosene oil on smooth board and ap-
ply lighted match. It will ignite with
great difficulty and probably 20 out.
Now pour a little oil which contains naph-
tina, or little pure naptha, on board,
and apply a lighted match. It will
burst into great flame instantly, and
unless very little ie used the fame will
rise upward several feet. All these tests
should be made in a room where there
is no fire or light near, as any specimen
may prove dangerous one"