258 FUMIGATION METHODS 
poses and is sold at a price within reach of those who 
desire to use if for economic purposes. 
Chemical properties.—Carbon bisulphid is a color- 
less liquid resembling water. It is formed by the 
union of two elementary particles of sulphur with one 
of carbon (charcoal); thus the chemical symbol CS,,. 
It is made on a large scale by a new electric process 
invented and patented by Edward R. Taylor. The 
fumes of burning sulphur are passed over red-hot 
charcoal and the resulting vapors are condensed to a 
liquid by cooling. Mr. Taylor’s new plant at Pen Yan, 
New York, has a daily capacity of 20,000 pounds at 
present. ‘The liquid is one-fourth heavier than water. 
Its specific gravity is 1.29 at the freezing temperature 
of water. It is very refractive, reflecting light much 
more readily than water when its surface is disturbed. 
It is extremely volatile and evaporation is rapid when 
the surface is exposed to the air. The temperature of 
the liquid and the air, as well as the evaporating sur- 
face, determines the rapidity of evaporation. By cov- 
ering the surface of carbon bisulphid with water, 
which is lighter, evaporation can be prevented. 
Carbon bisulphid is not necessarily dangerous to 
the skin, but when the fingers or hands are frequently 
moistened with it the skin becomes rather dry and 
harsh and liable to crack or chafe. On account of its 
volatility it absorbs considerable heat. Perfectly pure 
carbon bisulphid has an acrid taste and a rather 
sweetish, not disagreeable, etherial odor, similar indeed 
to that of ether or chloroform. Pure carbon bisulphid 
will not injure or stain the finest garments or fabrics. 
It can be poured directly upon food stuffs without im- 
