Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1882-08-31
Kerosene and How 10 Use II.

Kerosene and How 10 Use Il.
Many and terrible are the accidents
annually from the use Of kerosene or
coal oil, and anything in regard to
testing illuminating oils and how to
use them win be Of valuable interest
to all. The following extracts from q
paper by that noted physician, Profes-
sor j. K. Macomber. of the Iowa
State Agricultural college, are given
for the benefit Of our readers, and in
the hope that it may prevent many a
sad accident from kerosene. After
enumeratings the various "hydrocar-
bons," and describing their qualities
and productions, and stating the re-
quirements of the laws of Iowa, as to
the inspection Of oil, the professor
gives the method of testing oils as
follows:
With a little care any one can test a
specimen of oil and determine whether
| it is fit for use. A common thermom-
eter, a teacup, saucer and a little warm
water include the apparatus needed.
First, remove all objects from the table
which are infammable. Put some
boiling water in the teaeup and gradu-
ally pour in cold water, until its tenn
| perature is about one hundred and
forty-five degrees. Pour little oil on
the warm water and stir well until the
oil has the same temperature asthe
water. Light amatehand moveit quick
ly two or three times over thesurfaceo of
the oil. Do not hold it still moment.
The test is for the purpose of deter
mining the presence Of in
fammable vapprs above liquid.
Finally, plunge the match quick
ly into the oil. If it does not ig-
mite the oil is alright. If il lights,
reject it as below standard and danger
Gus. To extinguish the oil when light
ed, place the saucer over the teacup.
If the oil is suspected to be very bad,
pour a littleon water at about sixtyor
seventy degrees. If it contains naptha
or gasoline it win ignite the moment
the match comes over. it, and it win
burn furiously. Again, pour a little
good kerosene oil on smooth board
and apply lighted match. It will ig-
mite with great difficulty and probably
gosout. Now pour a little which con-
tains naphtha or a little pure naphtha
on the board, and apply a lighted
match. 1t win burst into a great flame
instantly, and unless very little is used
the flame will rise up several feet. All
these tests should be made in room
where there is no FIRE or light near,
as any specimen may prove a danger
Gus one.
Accidents are most likely to occur
when using lamp only partially full
of the dangerous oil. When the lamp
cools, air enters and mixes with the
vapor, and the next time it is lighted
perhaps the flame viii run down beside
the wick, and an explosion results. In
testing an oil. a blush fame will some
times be seen to run over the surface
of the fluid, and then 90 out at q tenn
peraturN below where the oil burns.
The first temperature Is called the
'fiashing point. : In some States the
Flashing point" is used as the basis for
testing oils. This is alower tempera-
ture by five or ten degrees than the
burning point
The dangerous properties of the naph-
tha and gasoline are inherent in the
nature Of the liquids themselves, and
no human device can alter them, and
yet there are men who go about pre-
tending to sell "non-explosive naph-
thas,' and s'non-expl xplosive' lamps and
stoves, Safety lamps and safety
fiuids' are only safe when the fluid
used is good kerosene, and this is al
ways safe. The victims Of these dis
asters are generally innocent women
and children. BY purchasing oils in
quantities Of five gallons at q time,