Keiv Spring of Petroleum d'lscvvered in Italy. 3'23 



noa. He made experiments to ascertain the intensity and 

 degree of the hght which this hquid produces in comparison 

 oJt" oHve oil ; and was able to make an exact calculation how 

 tar it would be advantageous to employ it. 



He put an ounce of petroleum into a glass lamp ; added 

 a flat wick of four lines in breadth^ placing it in such a man- 

 ner that the bottom of the flame should be about an inch 

 above the fluid. He then put an ounce of olive oil into an- 

 other lamp of the same kind, and kindled both lamps at the 

 same time. The)- gave a flame equally strong, and a light 

 of the same intensity; but with this diflerence, that the 

 former alone produced a little smoke, and Ijurnt an hour and 

 a half, while the lamp containing the olive oil burnt an 

 hour and thirty-five minutes. Both of them were then dry, 

 without leaving any residuum. 



In order to try whether the smoke might not be destroyed 

 or diminished, he burnt the petroleum in a lamp with a 

 current of air furnislied with a glass cylinder. He indeed 

 found that the liquid, w bile it burned completely with a white 

 and very bright flame, emitted no longer any smoke or bad 

 smell. The combustion was so rapid that the flame was 

 agitated by it. lilaving then introduced into the same lamp 

 a mixture of equal parts of petroleum and olive oil, he ob- 

 tained a slower combustion, with a more tranquil and uni- 

 form flame. He obtained the same result by the union of 

 these two substances in a reverberating lamp with a wick 

 of about an inch in breadth. 



From these experiments he concluded that this petroleum 

 might be advantageously employed for lighting the streets, 

 observing the following precautions : 



1st, That the flame should be about an inch above the 

 oil. 



2d, That the lamp should be covered and closed in such 

 a manner as to prevent the flame from being communicated 

 to the petroleum. 



3d, To use a flat wick, to prevent smoke and render the 

 combustion complete. 



It was in consequence of this report of professor Mojon 

 that the Lio;urian government ordered petroleum to be em- 

 ployed for lighting the streets of Genoa. It is used at pre- 

 sent without any mixture : the reverberators are constructed 

 with the improvements above indicated ; but care has been 

 taken to add a kind of conical tube or chimney of tin plate, 

 to convey off the smoke which may be disengaged. Ey 

 these means the same (juantity of light is obtained as witli 

 X ii olive 



