8 The Bulletin 



suggestions for the care and use of kerosene lamps. 



The wick should be of proper size for the burner employed. It 

 should be long enough to reach the bottom of the oil container. It 

 should be thoroughly dried before use and immediately soaked in oil. 

 It is better to change wicks after two months use. 



The chimney should be of the proper size and care should be taken 

 that the chimney is held tightly enough so as not to fall off when the 

 lamp is moved. 



The burner should be cleaned thoroughly once a month and all pieces 

 of burnt wick, dead insects and dirt should be removed every day. It is 

 very important to keep the air holes in the burner open. 



Always fill the lamp by daylight and never while the lamp is burning. 

 See that the cap is screwed in before lighting. The burnt crust of the 

 wick should be removed each day before lighting. 



Refill the lamp before all the oil in the container is consumed. It is 

 best to keep the lamp well filled, as the oil feeds to the wick better then 

 and there is less danger of gas being formed in the container. 



In extinguishing a light never blow down the chimney, but blow across 

 the top, or better still, place a small card or piece of tin on top of the 

 chimney. 



Care should be taken to place the lamp in a secure place and never on 

 a rickety table or place where it may be easily upset. 



Never pour oil on a fire. 



methods of analysis. 



The flash point was determined with the Elliott Closed Cup Tester. 

 The test was applied according to the following directions: 



"Remove the oil cup and fill the water-bath with cold water up to the 

 mark on the inside. Replace the oil cup and pour in enough oil to fill it to 

 within one-eighth of an inch of the flange joining the cup and the vapor- 

 chamber above. Care must be taken that the oil does not flow over the 

 flange. Remove all air bubbles with a piece of dry paper. Place the glass 

 cover on the oil cup, and so adjust the thermometer that its bulb shall be 

 just covered by the oil. 



"If an alcohol lamp be employed for heating the water-bath, the wick 

 should be carefully trimmed and adjusted to a small flame. A smay Bun- 

 sen burner may be used in place of the lamp. The rate of heating should 

 be about two degrees per minute, and in no case exceed three degrees. 



"As a flash torch, a small gas jet one-quarter of an inch in length should 

 be employed. When gas is not at hand employ a piece of waxed linen twine. 

 The flame in this case, however, should be small. 



"When the temperature of the oil has reached 85° F. the testings should 

 commence. To this end insert the torch into the opening in the cover, pass- 

 ing it in at such an angle as to well clear the cover, and to a distance about 

 half-way between the oil and the cover. The motion should be steady and 

 uniform, rapid and without any pause. This should be repeated at every 

 two degrees' rise of the thermometer until the thermometer has reached 

 95°, when the lamp should be removed and the testings should be made for 

 each degree of temperature until 100° is reached. After this the lamp may 

 be replaced if necessary and the testings continued for each two degrees. 



"The appearance of a slight bluish flame shows that the flashing point has 

 been reached. 



"In every case note the temperature of the oil before introducing the 

 torch. The flame of the torch must not come in contact with the oil. 



"The water-bath should be filled with cold water for each separate test, 

 and the oil from a previous test carefully wiped from the oil cup." 



