of Fish Oil. 281 



teniperatuie of the oil was raised in twenty minutes from 360 to 

 460, at which point it threw out some highly inflammable vapours, 

 as also jets of flame. He considered the practice of employing 

 it in a boiler to be extremely hazardous; and thought that a 

 conflagration produced by it would exhibit appearances similar to 

 those which were described to have actually taken place at the 

 fire in questi<m. This judgement he formed on the result of his 

 inquiries on a small scale. 



This evidence was further confirmed by that of Mr. Children. 



Mr. John Taylor, chemist and engineer, was next called, and 

 stated, that he had been in the habit of producing gas from oil. 

 With regard to the possibility of a current of air descending 

 through a pipe or tube, through which the draught generally 

 ascended, it might depend greatly on the state of the wind. A 

 vapour created in the manner referred to would rather coruscate 

 like lightning than explode with anv noise. He was acquainted 

 with the ordinary process of boiling and refining sugar, and did 

 not apprehend that there was the slightest danger attending it. 

 He was however of opinion that the new process was extremely 

 hazardous. 



Mr. John Martineau and Mr. W. Daniel, both sugar-refiners, 

 also described the mode in which that operation was carried on 

 in ordinary cases, and expressed their conviction that it was not 

 attended with any risk of conflagration. 



Mr. Arthur Aikin stated, that he had long made chemical pur- 

 suits his study, and about four or five years ago was led to make 

 some experiments on oil. The oil he chiefly used was whale-oil, 

 which was of a viscid and gelatinous nature, and contained a great 

 deal of animal jelly. This, when exposed to a temperature that 

 blackened it, was decomposed, and produced a very volatile and 

 inflammable oil. By distillation this inflammable quality was 

 greatly increased, and, if poured into the hand, it would evaporate 

 like spirits of wine. When a viscid fluid like whale-oil was ex- 

 posed to the action of naked fire, its carbonaceous substance was 

 decomposed, and formed a stratum at the bottom. There was an 

 accumulation of heat in this stratum, much greater than the de- 

 gree indicated by the thermometer placed in the fluid above. He 

 thought there nmst be great danger attending its use, for pur- 

 poses such as those in question; and the result of his own in- 

 quiries perfectly corresponded with the experiments made by pre- 

 ceding witnesses. There was always a risk that the boiler would 

 give way under the pressure of the volatile oil. It was a dan- 

 gerous and unmanageable fluid ; and the more frequently it was 

 subjected to the action of fire, the more volatile and inflannnatory 

 it became ; insomuch that combustion would be produced at 

 last with a very sniall degree of heat, and an accident might 

 Vol.55. No. 264. y^/^ri/ 1820. X easily 



