The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-14

practitioners OF medicine, winch eNcrclseS
potent weight and influence in the pro-
iession throughout the UniSed States, has
forwarded to Mayor Filter an earnest and
formidable protest against the introduction
OF water gas in this city, based upon an
investigation OF its alleged poisonous prop |
critics and the alarming results OF its use
elsewhere.
The college recently appointed a COM
Ihittee to investigate the subject, and they |
have submitted report embodying pro-
test TO Mayor Filter. Tho committee was
composed OF DIR. Horatio @. Wood, pro
lessor OF matcria medica in the University |
OF Pennsylvania: DR. Theodore G.. Worm
ley, professor Of chemistry in the Univer-
sity Of Pennsylvania; Dr. ]. w. Holland,
professor OF chemistry in the Jefferson !
Medical college; Prof. Henry llefimnnn,
Of the United States mint; DR.. Isaac Nor
ria, IT,, secretary Of the College OF physi-
clans, and DIR. Horace Jayne, professor OF
vertebrate morphology in the University
OF Pennsylvania.
These well known medical specialists
and scientists in their report say that
water gas is made by passing supcrhcated
steam through anthracite coal at high
temperature, and afterward cnriching the
product by some process which adds to
the gas highly carburetted compounds.
The result OF the first decomposition of
the steam by the heated anthracite coal IN
nearly odoriess gas, which contains q
very large amount OF carbonic oxide OF
carbon monoxide, and burns without
I...Is I..t .vtN IL
first product is the 80 called fuel water
gas, and has been extensively employed
Tor heating purposes. by the addition OF
the carbon compounds fuel water gas is
changed into Illuminating water gas,
which approximates in tho Intensity OF its
disagrc cable odOr coal gas, and which
when burnt affords very excellent light.
4 LARGE PERCENTAGE oF POISON.
The report deals exclusively with the
latter compound used for illumination, and
BAYS that the various analyses OF il, rs they
have been published, show that IL contains
from 80 to 10 per cent, or oven more, OF
carbonic oxide, whilst the ordinary coal
las has in IL from 3 to 2 per cent OF the
same compound.
Tho committee then gives q comparison
81 the amount of dcleterious or poisonous
substances yielded 10 the surrounding at
mosphcre during the combustion OF an
equal volume Of the two gases--watcr and
coal. They derive the conclusion that the
combustion Of 100 Cubic feet OF coal gas
would give rise TO 1854 cubic feet Of car
homie oxide gas; whilst the combustion OF
I'm equal volume Of water gas would gen
crate 40 S2 cubic feet OF carboaic oxide.
That is the combustion Of given volume
II Al NOR
cent more carbonic oxide than the COM
buslion Of an equal volume Of coal gas,
and would therefore contaminate about
one.third more Of the air Of a room.
In regard 20 the relative poisonous prop
critics Of the two gases before they are
burnt, the report says II depends upon the
quantity Of carbonic oxide In them, the
other ingredients being comparatively
harmless. When quantities Of either gas
Get into room, certain proportion es-
capcs through the windows, doors and
oiher apcrturcs, 20 that II does not follow
that u gus containing twice as much poison
n another will be doubly ~ fatal.
soNr DEADLY STATISTICS.
Tho introduction Of water gus into cities
las. 20 far ~ your committee has been
able 10 oct al the facts, always been accom-
number uf deaths from gas poisoning. In
4. New York city in the seven years tcrmi-
MATING January J.. 1883, there were la
deaths from water gas and nine deaths
from coal gas. whilst the number Of deaths
In january Of this year ia New York city
from water r.ls Is said 10 have cqualcd all
the deaths from coal gas in Boston In the
Lust filty-liye ycars. In the Eve years end
ing january /, 1875, there was In the city
II Baltimore forty-fivo deaths from water
gas. In the year 1887, following the intro
duction VI water gas into San Francisco,
the number OF deaths WIS twelve. Eleven
deaths were reported in the New York
newspapers ~ having occurred In Chicago
in 1875 and 1887. OF the exact number
that really did occur in Chicago your COM
inittcc has NO accurate information.
The committee has been very much
struck by tic fact that whenever they
have net with the report Of deaths &C
curing Ia a small city from the inhalation
Of gas, upon looking into the list Of cities
supplied with water gas they have invafi.
lily found TINT the city In which the death
took place was upon the list. Within the
week an occurrence nj Reading, Pa,
points out very important danger. II Is
renerally thought that these deaths arr
the result OF carelcsncS In leaving the
gas turned on, although extinguishcd. II
wonld appear, however, that owing to the
variations In pressure, and probably ais
10 the variation in the mixture Of the con
situcnls Of the water gas, or 10 oiheI
cauar, Wien the gas IL left burning low NJ
nieht Il " entirely possible for the light e
70 out, and niierward sufficient gas e.
rapcs into the noon To- cause death. Thus
on March 20, in the Keystone house ~
Reading, two gentlemen we're found dcad
IN their beds from water gas poisoning
and according 90 the testimony at the cor
oncr's Inquest the gas had been left b,
them lighted.
fitE ENORMOUS Gas LEAKAGE.
The committee says that according {,
MAYOR Filters annual report over " re
cent. Of the yearly product Of the Philadcl
pha g.is-works u lost in leakage, equal Z
40. giO, $40 cubic feet annually. While !
"a not possible 10 form definite opinion o
the extent Of III health caused by breathing
noxious raars that escape in this manner
the committee believes u subject 10
urgent consideration In selecting gas 10
uso in large city like this.
Dangers That already exist from thi
sourc would be alsrmingly multiplied b.
the substitution Of water gas for coal gls
in Troy, v. Y, during the winter Of 1850
~ fifteen persons were overcome by III
erapc of water gas from leak In the soil
aud required medical attendance 90 rcviv
them. The inhabitants Of an entire ro'
Of houses In the same city were SIMILAR
evcrsomc, and In the cases which term