6 
kerosene does upon water. The rapid evaporation of the liquid takes 
up a large amount of heat. Ifa little be poured upon the hand, a 
burning sensation will be experienced, which, however, is due, not to 
a burning, but to a cooling process, as may be perceived by touching 
the spot with the other hand. No harm need be feared from getting 
it upon the skin. When perfectly pure the liquid has an acrid taste 
and a rather sweetish, not unpleasant, ethereal odor, quite similar to 
that of ether or chloroform. Pure carbon bisulphid is completely 
volatile, and will not injure or stain the finest fabrics. Even when 
poured directly upon food stuffs their edibility is not at all impaired, 
and all trace of the odor disappears quickly upon free and full expo- 
sure to the air. The ordinary commercial article, however, has a 
slightly yellowish tinge due to its impurities, which also give it a rank 
fetid odor that is extremely obnoxious. These impurities add to its 
poisonous qualities. When the impure article is used, some slight 
residue may be left after the evaporation of the liquid. For this rea- 
son this grade will stain goods, and it should not be poured upon 
food stuffs, though its vapor will do them no harm. Liquid carbon 
bisulphid is not at all explosive, so there need be no fear of handling 
it, provided the cans are perfectly tight. It is best kept in an out- 
house where there is no fire and where it is dry, so that the cans will 
not rust and allow the vapors to escape through leaks. The liquid 
boils at 115° F., but a few degrees higher than the temperature of the 
human body. One volume of the liquid is said to give 375 volumes 
of vapor upon evaporation. 
VAPOR PROPERTIES. 
The vapor of carbon bisulphid is 2.63 times as heavy as air, and can, 
therefore, be poured from one glass to another almost like water. It 
can be seen flowing down over the edge of an open vessel containing 
the liquid. Although it diffuses quite rapidly through the air, as can 
be perceived by its odor, it is evident that the vapor will always tend 
to work downward more strongly than upward and that it will always 
be more dense at the lower levels. This point should be borne in mind, 
as it has an important bearing upon the application of the bisulphid. 
The vapor, as well as the watery solution, isa powerful disinfectant. 
Meats will keep in an atmosphere of it for months without change. 
Lamps have been devised for burning carbon bisulphid in disinfection 
work, but, as the active disinfectant is the same gas as is formed by 
burning pure sulphur or brimstone, it can be obtained more cheaply 
in the latter way. 
EFFECTS OF INHALATION OF THE VAPOR. 
Concerning the effects of the inhalation of the vapor, we learn from 
chemical and medical works that the gas is highly poisonous, produc- 
ing giddiness, vomiting, congestion, coma, and finally death. ‘These 
