Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-09-02
WATER, COAL-GAS
raE DANGER or THE TWO COMPARED
ny scIRNTIsrs
They Regard the Latter as Much Safer and
Think the Former Tangible Ia
sanitary Agent

water.gas in Richmond. in order to in-
crease the supply without any great out
lay OF funds, has been widely discussed.
A special committee was sent to Wash
ipcton. Baltimore. and New York to look
into the workings OF the system at those
places. and they were so favorably i'm
pressed that they recommended the
establishment OF water-gas plant IN
connection with the present works.
The Light Committee, however. rejected
this report, and decided 10 expend the
s25. 900 appropriated in increasing the
capacity OF the present works
in view 81 the attention which this
matter hasreceived the following arti-
Gle on "Gas- Poisoning, from the Drug
gists' Circular, will prove interesting
reading:
II ia not an uncommon thing 10 read
in the newspapers that some unfortunate
person has been ssphyxiated 10y
Illuminating gas The popular idea re-
earding the manner in winch this agent
acts to produce fatal results IL indicated
by the term quoted. This idea IL per
sistertly reinforced by newspaper writers,
but the truth IL that persons who dle
from exposure to an atmosphere strongly
charged with such gas are not suftocated,
but poisoned. Another very important
auxiliary fact is that most of tins poison
ing is done by the so-called water gas
which on account of its less cost is beng
substituted for the ordinary gas made
directly from coal.
THE PHARMACIST.
While the pbarmacistis not likelyto be
called on 10 assume the role OF tOMcoio-
eist IN cases OF this kind, 1t will be OF
some importance for him to recognize
their trne character. if for no other rea-
son than TO assist IN disseminating pre-
cautionary information. While phar-
macv and sanitation are two distinct
SCIENCES. yet there are points OF very
close relationship between them, and
although the pharmacist, as such, can DO
nothing 10 avoid the cause OF danger III
tins instance. no will scarcely be going
ont OF ms province 20 add his influence
e. that of the medical profession IN adj
yocsicv of n sanitary measure where the
ins4nitary agent is OF SO tangible ma
ture.
At PHILADELPHIA.
Gss.poisoning has assumed n new IN
torest from the recent proposal to intro
dure water gas into Philadelphia. Tins
propossl has brought forth strong pro
test from the medical profession OF that
city. 4 committee OF experts has lnvesI-
roied tbe subject. and reported to the
Navor that the use OF water-Gas =
exceedingly Objectionable from a SAM
tsrv point of view. The statistics
prcs.ntcd hv the committee are very
starting. showing an extraordinary IN
crease IN the number of deaths from gas
poisoning since the Introduction OF tie
So ,lltd water-gas.
The great fatality occurring from es-
capcs OF this gas is due 70 the fact that 1t
contains from 80 to A. per cent, or even
more. of carbon m0uo2iie, while coal
pas contains only from 5 to per cent.
COMPARED by EXPERIMENT.
This oxide has long been recognized
rs powerful poison, end It's highly dan
ccrous character WIS very fully set out
some wears ago in experiments made
" Professors ScdGwick and Nichols,
under toe direction ~ the Massachusetts,
Boar Of Fealth. Rooms were fitted uD
10 barn 10 initiate as nearly
49, POSSIBLE the formation Of an
ordinary sleeping-r0om. Experiments
were made first with coal-gas
Some rabbits and pigeons were placed ID
the room, and for about four hours NO
particular symptoms except drOwslncSs
were apparent. In q second experiment.
lasting twenty-lOur hours, the gas adj
mitiel finally reached about per cent.
Of the entire atmosphere of the room,
vet the animals showed tuhing uneasi-
ness ONLY. The next experiments we're
mado with wuter-gas, and the animals
w,ro Frustrated IN au hour IN two hours
they were nearly dead.
All experiments with coal-gas showed
that on account of the natural ventila-
ton going on all the time through the
walls. ceiling, and floor, and through the
cracks about the doors and windows, II
was difficult with this gas TO accumulate
n euffcient amount OF carbon monOxide
10 render il fatal while with water-gos,
on itLONHl ~ tAH II - l'Ah lNtAN'N~%
oxide. the danger line WAS soon reached.
DIFFERENT EFFRCrs.
The different eflectso OF different quaint
ties of carbon monoxide are analogous
10 the different effects between quartec
grain and whole grain of morphine. A
quarter grain is tolerated, while whole
grain is .atai.
Ia addition to the danger from escapes
into houses, possible injury TO the public
health from the ordinary leakages into
the cir from the mains, &C., should be
carefully considered
The only thing which seems to com
mend water-gss over cOal-gas isits cheap
ness. consideration which, as gas com
panies usually 60, is not OF special conse-
Quence 10 the consumer, and were be TO
secure the full benefit OF the decreased
cost, that benefit could not for a
moment he set against the greatly in
creased risk TO human life.
RICHMOND AND CHESAPEAKE.