CHEMICAL SCIENCE. ]93 



or other source. In these facts lies the explanation of the phenomena 

 that have been observed. 



_" The general principle, that a mixture of a highly combustible gas 

 with oxygen or atmospheric air is explosive, suggested -the idea, that, in 

 the chamber above the burning-fluid in the flask from which the lamps 

 are filled, there might be an admixture of the vapor of the burning- 

 fluid in such proportion with atmospheric air as to make it susceptible 

 of explosion. To test the value of this suggestion, experiments were 

 made with alcohol by directing a current of air into the upper part of 

 a loosely stoppered laboratory glass spirit-lamp, while burning, caus- 

 ing thereby a mixture of alcohol-vapor and air to rush past the 

 flame. After a moment or two the jet took fire, and was instanta- 

 neously followed by explosion. The result was invariable. After 

 permitting a drop of alcohol in a large glass flask with a small neck 

 to evaporate for a moment, and applying flame to the mouth, explo- 

 sion resulted generally, but not invariably. Ether similarly treated 

 yielded less uniform results, because probably of the greater difficulty 

 in obtaining the proper mixture of the vapor of ether and air. A 

 variety of burning-fluid in extensive use, said by the venders not to 

 explode, was subjected to similar experiments, with still less frequent 

 affirmative results. They were, however, sufficient to show that ex- 

 plosions with them are possible. Similar experiments have been made 

 with another variety of burning-fluid by Dr. M. Wyman, with like 

 results. It is, then, conceivable, that, when the proper relative amounts 

 of burning-fluid vapor and atmospheric air are mixed together, as 

 they may be in the upper part of a partially filled can or receiver, and 

 a flame is brought sufficiently near, explosion must result. If the 

 quantity of mixed gases be large, the explosion may cause the de- 

 struction of the containing vessel, or, if that remain entire, it may 

 drive out a portion of the fluid, which, taking fire, may cause more or 

 less injury. The course of safety has been pointed out by the dealers 

 in these articles for illumination. It is to fill the lamps (the tops of 

 which are without special air-holes and which screw on) in the absence 

 of flame, by daylight, for example, in which case no explosion can 

 occur. 



" Similar accidents to the above have taken place in the use of 

 the so-called air-tight stoves for burning wood. After the wood has 

 been fired, and the supply of air for some time shut off, on reopening 

 the draft, and sometimes even without, occasionally explosions of 

 great violence have occurred, attended with the blowing off of the 

 door, and, in some instances, producing still greater injuries to the 

 stove. The probable explanation is this. After firing the wood and 

 shutting off the draft, destructive distillation commences and inflam- 

 mable gases issue from the wood, which, mingling with air derived 

 from the pipe or remaining still unconsumed, furnish an explosive 

 mixture, which the first jet of flame, or perhaps the incandescent coal, 

 causes to explode. As these accidents are not of frequent occurrence, 

 it may be found that the probability of producing inflammable gases 

 in the required quantity is less with some varieties of wood than with 

 others." 



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