50 



'^Editor American Miller: I have seen a great many very rar- 

 dom statements on the subject of the inflammability of bisulphide 

 of carbon. Oce says, 'Use the same care as with gunpowder.' 

 Another says 'It is a very explosive liquid.' These are both very 

 misleading statements with reference to the properties of bisul- 

 phide of carbon. I have quoted the statements, however, in my 

 printed matter for the reason that farmers and many others use 

 the goods, and will be sufficiently startled by such statements to 

 be careful and have no light or fire about. 



"Neaily everybody is now familiar with gasoline. The proper- 

 ties of that liquid and bisulphide are practically identical in 

 that both are inflammable but neither of them explosive. The 

 vapor of either of them mixed with air is explosive, but the 

 liquids are not explosive. I have shipped thousands of pounds of 

 bisulphide to millers, elevator operators, and farmers in the last 

 few years, and I have yet to have the first report of any disaster, 

 even of the most trivial character, from a single one of them. 

 Need I say more? My directions are explicit; Do the work 

 Saturday afternoon by daylight. Absolutely have no light or fire 

 of any kind about. Close the mill and leave the bugs to their 

 destruction till Monday morning. Then open doors and windows, 

 and thoroughly ventilate before going to work." 



Some of the insurance companies have commenced to feel a 

 little uneasy lest they should suffer loss by fire originating from 

 the use of bieulphide of carbon in mills. The "American Miller" 

 has investigated this subject by sending letters of inquiry to 

 all the more important millers' insurance companies in the United 

 States and Canada, and so far has not learned of a single fire 

 "which is known to have been caused by the. use of bisulphide of 

 carbon. The properties of the fluid have been fully described re- 

 peatedly, and millers have been warned to keep lights and fire 

 away from the vapor, lest an explosion should occur. The fact 

 that it has been used so long without fires being traceable to it, 

 gives strength to the opinion that millers, out of consideration for 

 their own lives, have heeded the warning and have been exceed- 

 ingly careful in applying it. When they become more familiar 

 with its use they may grow careless, but we hope such will not 

 be the case. It should not be stored near the mill, as this in- 

 creases the fire risk. A break in the can might unexpectedly re- 

 lease fumes which would soon fill the mill. 



Bisulphide of carbon is sold at drug stores at from 20 to 80 

 cenis a pound, but can be bought much cheaper at wholesale, 

 directly from the manufacturer. A grade known as "Fuma Bisul- 

 phide of Carbon" can be obtained directly from its manufacturer, 

 Mr. Edward R. Taylor, Cleveland, Ohio, in fifty- or hundred-pound 

 cans at ten cents a pound, and is as effective as the ordinary 

 grades on the market. A carefully prepared circular containing 

 full information for its use and the necessary precautions to be 

 heeeded during its application is sent with each order sold. 



Sulphur.— From a practical standpoint sulphur ranks next to 

 bisulphide of carbon, as an effective remedial measure, but it 



