Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1894-09-06
GASOLINE AND ITS DANGERS.

The Board of health of Iowa issues
the following circular Of suggestions
regarding the handling Of gasoline,
which it would be well for everybody
to carefully read and bear in mind.
1t is true gasoline may be used with
a minimum risk of danger, but there
always exists the liability to Negligence,
c,,relessness, a leaking can, and de-
feet in the stove; the stop cock may
became worn and leak, permitting a
flow of gasoline faster than it is con-
sumed; the generating burner may be
extinguished by wind, when the gaso-
line will continue to flow, and explode
on regulating the burner. The stove
has not yet been made that renders it
perfectly safe" to use gasoline. The
danger lies in the gasoline itself, which
is not safe to have about the house.
Certain precautionary measures may
be adopted to render it less dangerous,
if rightly observed. The August bull
letin of the state board of health gives
the following:
First-Keep it in well-ventilated,
cool place, inaccessible to children;
never in any part of dwelling.
Second-No Enclosed vessel, as q
pitcher, basin or cup, containing gaso.
line, should be carried and placed with
in ten feet of a burning stove, lamp,
gas or flame of any kind or in an in
habited room.
Third Gasoline should never be
poured from one vessel to another in
any room in which there is an open
CRATE burning, nor within ten feet of a
stoye in which, u fire, lighted lamp or
burning gas jet, as the current of air
in a room is always toward a fire or
burning lamp, and tue vapor of gaso-
line will be carried III that direction
and will ignite at long distance.
Fourth-Neyer fill the reservoir of q
stove when the burner is lighted, nor
near another stove in which a fire is
burning. TO do so, an explosion is in
evitaDle. When not in use, close the
cutoff between the reservoir and burn
er. This will prevent overflow from
defect of leakage at the burner. If
there be an overflow of gasoline when
filling the reservoir, or from the burner,
wipe it carefully up before lighting the
burner. If the overflow should become
ignited, smother it with a blanket or
cloths. Do not throw water on it, as
that spreads the gasoline and increases
the danger. Flour will extinguish gas
oline flames quickly. This is true of
the accidental igniting of any quantity
of gasoline. Keep the reservoir con
tinually closed air tight.
Fifth-lf from leakage of stove or
vessel, there is discovered an odor of
gasoline in a room that has been closed,
throw open the doors and windows
until the air is changed before a match
is struck or flame of any kind is per-
mitted therein.
Sixth-It seems absurd to give warn
ing against kindling fire with gaso-
line, but the records of self-murder
from this cause is evidenced that this
superlative folly is perpetrated to an
alarming extent. A more certain and
horrible method of self-destruction
cannot easily be conceived.
Seventh-Keep gasoline in a tight
vessel and after drawing therefrom
place the cap over the spout and close
the neck and vent tube if there be one.
This will prevent evaporation of the
fluid. 1t is from evaporation, filling
the air with an explosive vapor, comes
the danger.
Eighth-Never attempt to clean
gloves on the hand nor dresses with
gasoline near flame or stove. The
fire in the stove will draw the vapor