Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1893-06-03
DANGEROUS coNvENIENcEs.
A Word of Caution Concerning the Care
of Matches.

A Word of Caution Concerning the Care
of Matches.
recent writer in one of our chemi-
cal journals raises the question whether
the so-called safety Matches" which
are supposed to ignite only on the
boxes in which they are put up, are
really as safe as they are supposed to
be. AS justification for his question
he cites the fact that in his Office COM
bustion took place in two packets
which were allowed to fall to the floor
In handling, the only cause of the igni-
ton being the concussion attending
the fall. Further demonstration showed
that the matches were not by any
means as absolutely safe as might be
supposed from the label upon the box.
1t was found impossible to ignite them
by sharp impact against each other,
which was doubtless the cause of the
phenomena when the packages were
dropped; and they could also be lighted
when rubbed sharply upon hard smooth
surfaces, like sheet of paper, a pane
OF glass, or the like. Yet chemical
analysis showed that these matches
were true to their formula in that they
| contained no PHOSPHORUS. There was
also popularity noticed in that they
were more susceptible to ignition when
In an extremely dry state than when
the atmosphere was damp, though not
excessively so
| This experience gives the text for a
little discussion of dangers so common
and so imminent in every household,
that no apology would seem necessary
for referring to it with the purpose of
uttering word of caution, which may
be repeated from member to member
of the home circle. We wonder how
our ancestors managed to get along at
all before the invention of matches;
they are so indispensably handy that
we keep them in every room of the
house, the ''men folks" carry them in
their pockets, leave them hanging in
their ''other clothes in dozen closets
in all portions of the house; we have "a
handful resting within reach while we
sleep; they are dropped here and there
as we attempt to handle them; if it is
| light, and we readily see them, they
are picked up, otherwise they are left
| till a more convenient season-whfch
generally does not come, simply be-
cause they are forgotten, being "only
match can get plenty more for
a cent, and time is too valuable to be
wasted over so insignificant trife.
Yet this insignificant trife' pos
sesses the latent power to destroy the
finest mansion, and with it lives of
sweetness and beauty which the world
can poorly afford to spare. The cause
of the confagrat ton may not always be
revealed, for the fire demon frequently
covers or destroys his tracks most
effectually; but how often is it appar-
ent that only simple match-that in
significant tritie-could have wrought
the ruin.
Every match which happens to drop
anywhere is a magazine of danger. Any
friction. or the pressure of foot. no
matter how lightly booted, will ignite
the thing. careless boy may lose one,
in some thoughtless way; his sister S
foot, in pressing it, may start blaze
which, communicating to her clothing,
may burn her to death. A more rapid
ly passing person may leave behind the
burning splinter, to communicate its
flame to other material, and to end
| where?
The moral is obvious: familiarity has
bred contempt. and in the use of these
dangerous little conveniences we have
become extremely careless. 1t is time
to turn over new leaf. Keep matches
in but a few places in the house or the
office. Let those few be fire-proof re.
ceptacles, in which the matches could
burn to ashes without endangering
anything. Remember that combus.
tion cannot go on without a supply OF
air, and for that reason, as well as to
prevent accidental scattering. the
match-boxes should always be kept
covered.-Burnt Fingers, in Good
Housekeeping.