The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1883-07-19
Gas, GAS, GAS
Reporl Of Brooklyn Health ComInis-
missioner on Lamps and Gas'
The Comparative Dangers Of Coal ana
Water Gas
When Inhaled In the Lungs

Health Commissioner Raymond oil BROOK
lvn received, on April O, from the commit
tee on lamps and gas of the board Of alder
man. the following request;
THAT you cause to be made an anaiy-
sis of water gas manufactured by the fui-
ton Municipal Gas company and OF coal
gas manufactured by the Brooklyn Gas
light company and investigate to what e~-
tent the use of water gas is more dangerous
to public health and life than isthe use OF
coal gas; that you cause to be compiled
list OF death caused by the inhalation OF
water gas in Brooklyn and New York since
its introduction in 1878; also, list OF deaths
caused by the inhalaIiun OF coal gas since lts
introduction in Brooklyn in 1919 aud In new
York since 1878, together with the proper.
tions of each gas used in New York and
BROOKLYN within the above period; $50, III
which states of the union the use OF water
gas or any gas containing more tnan leu
per cent of Carbolic oxide has been prohl-
| bit, d.
The commissioner report was made
Yesterday. The analyses were made by
Professor Ira Remsen, OF the John Hop
kips university. In his report to Commis-
siuner Raymond, Professor Remsen says,
after giving tables showing the CONSTITUENT
elements OF the two kinds OF gas, tGat the
principal dangerous constituent is carp lnn'
oxide. Both kinds of gas contain consider,
able quantities of this constituent. In coal
gas it is 70 parts in 100, and in water gas it
Is % Is parts. Both, if inhaled, would pro-
duce bad effects, and ii inhaled to a
sufficient extent, both would cause
death. He does not think, however, that
the difference in the percentage OF the car
bonic oxide present in the TWO gases Is
II alter of any Importance from sanitary
standpoint. Whether one gas or the other
| is used, there is danger connected with Its
escape, But long before enough OF either
to produce bad effects could accumulate in
room, 1t would necessarily be detected
by its odor. In case the occupants OF the
room were asleep, it was possible 1atai
effect might be reached few minutes ear,
lier in the case of water gas than in that OF
coal gas. Professor Remsen concludes that
the use of water gas is not at all dangerous
| if IL be used with the same precautions as
are observed in the use of ordinary coal
| gas.
Brooklyn from the two gases, as presented
by Commission Raymond, shows that III
the former there were A from water gas aho
gas and 3 from coal gas. He says that
most of the companies declined positively
to give any information as to the manner
of making their respective kinds Of gas, re-
garding this matter in the light OF a busl-
ness secret. He expresses no OPINION as 10
the relative danger to human lungs OF the
two kinds of gas, but quotes the opinions
of several chemists.
The only state, it is added, that has any
legislation prohibiting manufacturers OF
any kind OF gas is Massachusetts,, where q
inc OF 500 is imposed on any company
when the gas produced by it is found on
three consecutive examinations to give less
light than fifteen English candles. or to
contain more than 10 per cent. Of carbonic
oxide. :.
Water gas is not mentioned by name in
the act.
The report was referred to the committee
on lamps and gss.--[New York Sun.