Year: 1867

The accounts which reach us, not unfre-


quently, through the newspapers, of the ex-


plosion of kerosene oil in lamps and other


vessels, have created an alarm in some fami-


lies quite adverse to the use of that illuminat-


ing fluid. The people need to be informed of
the point of danger. We fnd in the last


number of the Boston Journal of Chemistry


timely and valuable. article explaining the


causes of accidents by kerosene, which is


worthy of extensive circulation. The follow


ing is an extract from it: G


Kerosene accidents occur from two causes :.
first, imperfect manufacture of the Article;


second, authorizations. But lamp may be


TILED with bad kerosene, or with the vapor


even, and in no possible way can it explode,


unless atmospheric air has somehow got mix


ell with the vapor. A lamp. therefore, full, or


nearly full of the liquid, is safe; and also one


full oil pure warm vapor is sale. Explosions


generally occur when the lamp is first lighted


without being filled, and also late in the eve
ming, when the fluid in nearly exhausted.
The reason Of this will readily be seen. In
using imperfect or adulterated kerosene, the
space above the line OF oil is always filed with
vapor, and so long as it is warm and rising
freely, no air can reach it, and it is safe. At
bedtime when the family retire, the light is


extinsuished; the lamp cools, portion of
the vapor is condensed; this creates partial
vacuum in the space, which is instantly filled
with air. The mixture IS now more or less
explosive; and when, upon the next evening,
the lamp is lighted without replenishng With
oil, as is often done, an explosion is liable to


take place. Late in the evening, when the
oil is nearly consumed, and the space above
filed with vapor, the lamp cannot explode so


long as it remains at rest upon the table. But
70 q NJ in ifnf 70 s,N4.. ii
room, the vapor is cooled, air passes in, and
the vapor becomes explosive We hear much


said about dangerous gases being formed in
lamps, but this is an error. The whole haZ-


ard comes from air-mixed vapor.


But how can we be positively assured of
safety in the use of kerosene? How can we
know the character of the article offered us


by Dealers? Ii consumers are willing to be
put to little trouble, simple experipent
will determine the safety of the kercsepe they
purchase. Fill pint bowl two-thi,ds full OF


boiling water, and into it put COMMON me, me,
tallie thermometer. The temperature VIII


run up to over 200 degrees. BY gradually adj
ding cold water, bring down the temperature
OF the water to 10 degrees, ana then pour
| into the bowl a spooniui OF tne Serosehe, ana
| apply a liqhted match. II it takes fire, the
! article sho1Jd be rejected as dangerous; if
| NOT II may be used with confident feeling of
| its safety.


The Legislature of Maine last winter, pass


ed law making it penal offence for traders


or others to have in their possession and Of


fer for sale any kerosene oil that has not


passed an official inspection and received The


proper certificates and brand. If this law is


rigidly enforced, as it should be, the people of
this State may feel quite safe in the puI chase
and use of the oil But bad oil. it may be


like bad liquors from Boston and elsewhere,


are likely to find their way into some grocers'


shops; and the safest rule for all to adopt is