December, '11] HINDS: CARBON DISULPHIDE EXPLOSION 535 



time, it seems absolutely impossible that the explosion should iiave 

 started in this case from any fire source whatever. It is known that 

 the vapor of carbon disulphide becomc^s explosive at a temperature 

 of between 295 and 300° F. even without preceding flame. In this 

 case it seems certain that the large mass of wet corn in the concrete 

 building from which moisture could escape only upward, was at the 

 time of treatment undergoing a heating which protluced a temperature 

 of at least 300° F. in some part of the mass. This high temperature 

 started the explosion as soon as the vapor of the liquid poured on top 

 of the corn had penetrated to a point where such heat occurred. This 

 is probably the only case of its kind that has ever occurred. At 

 the time of the examination, three weeks after the storage of the corn, 

 all heat had disappeared from the mass and unquestionably treatment 

 could have been repeated with entire safety as indeed the owner pro- 

 poses to do. 



As indicative of the high temperatures which may be produced 

 under very similar conditions I might mention the heat known to occur 

 where large masses of seed cotton was stored awaiting ginning. On 

 the same plantation but a short time before this explosion, it was 

 found in handling a large mass of such stored cotton that the hands of 

 the workmen could not endure the temperature of the mass. Burlap 

 sacking used to protect the hands was so charred and weakened by the 

 high temperature that it quickly fell to pieces. Doubtless in this case 

 also a temperature of over 300° F. occurred. 



These cases are thus fully reported because it seems to the writer 

 advisable henceforth to add one other precaution to those which are 

 usually stated in connection with the recommendations for the use of 

 carbon disulphide, that is that treatment with carbon disulphide 

 should never be attempted where there is any evidence of high temper- 

 ature occurring anywhere in the mass of grain or other material to be 

 treated. Doubtless treatment might be given immediately upon 

 storage before such heat developed or after a delay of two or three 

 weeks' storage, which would allow the heat to pass off so that danger 

 from it would also have passed. 



