K. DOMESTIC AND HOUSEHOLD ECONOMY. 417 



wick. Since its flame is but slightly colored, like that of 

 alcohol, and since it is a much better solvent for salts, he 

 found it jDreferable for the production of different colored 

 flames ; and he suggests the importance of further experi- 

 ments upon the adaptation of it to illuminating purposes by- 

 mixing it with other substances rich in carbon, and also upon 

 its heating power. Its cheapness and freedom from danger, 

 owing to its comparative non-volatility, w^ould render its use 

 for the above purposes desirable. 6 (7, 1875, 38. 



ILLUMINATIXG-GAS FEOil BOXES. 



As an illustration of an ingenious utilization of a waste 

 product, the River Platte Meat Preserving Company's works 

 in South America afford an example. Here the bones of the 

 cattle, the flesh of which goes to fill the pots of " fleisch ex- 

 tract," are made to yield the illuminating-gas by which the 

 company's factory is lighted. The works are very extensive, 

 and some two hundred burners are supplied from these novel 

 gas-works. 3 A, VI., 323. 



GAS FKOM CORK-WASTE. 



At Bordeaux some experiments in manufacturing illumi- 

 nating-gas from cork are reported to have proved quite suc- 

 cessful. The town of Nerac, in the neighborhood, is to be 

 lighted by it. It is obtained by distilling cork-waste, cut- 

 tings, etc., in a closed vessel, and the gas is said to be much 

 whiter and more brilliant, as well as of heavier gravity, and 

 cheaper than that from coal. 3 A, YL, 426. 



BURNING-GAS FROil WOOD AND PETROLEUM. 



The process of Messrs. Date & Eichbaum for making il- 

 luminating-gas is sufticiently novel and interesting to war- 

 rant the following description of the system lately introduced 

 into the town of Ingersoll, Ontario. The retort benches 

 (threes) here in use have some differences from the arrange- 

 ment usual for coal-gas. The upper retort is provided with 

 an inner or interior retort of cast iron, into which a resfulat- 

 ed supply of crude petroleum is fed by an air-compressing 

 device. The operator having thus perfect control of the 

 amount of oil introduced, a gas of any desired candle-power 

 can be made. The charging of the retorts and the opera- 



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