524 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



Petroleum Products. 



Prof. Vuiulerwcycle, of Philadelphia, mutle a very complete 

 display of all the compounds into which petroleum is separated 

 by distillation. The lightest product exhibited was a vapor at 

 ordinary tempcratuie, but bj^ slight pressure was reduced to a 

 liquid, a l)ottle of which was shown. The speaker proposed to 

 use it, as rhigoline'has been used by Dr. Bigelow, of Boston, for 

 local anoesthesia. All that is required is to loosen the cork, and 

 alloAV a little of the liquid to escape on that part of the body to 

 be chilled, the immense amount of heat absorbed on assuming the 

 gaseous form being thus abstracted from the part in contact with 

 it; but more case must be taked than with that distilled with a 

 higher heat, which is liquid at ordinary temperature. 



The product known as gasoline, lighter than kerosene, is burned 

 in a lamp fitted for that purpose, which is fdled with saw-dust. 

 The fluid is then poured into the inverted lamp through an aper- 

 ature in the liottom. It has no wick, but in place of it a tui)0 

 perforated with four or six very small holes. On exposing the 

 tube to the flame of a match, enough heat is obtained to generate 

 gas, which, on issuing from the tube, takes fire and gives a very 

 brilliant light. The tube thus heated by the flame continues to 

 generate the requii-ed gas. The lamp, as well as the can by which 

 it is filled, has its large aperatures covered with wire gauze, simi- 

 lar to that used in Sir Humphre}' Davy's safet}- lamp, to prevent 

 the flame from reaching the interior. 



The products of some petroleum wells contain nitn)genous mat- 

 ter, from wdiich the Ijeautiful aniline colors are made. These 

 were exhibited ; also parafiine, which has lately been used for 

 making ordinary thin wrapping paper impervious to air and 

 moisture. 



Several other petroleum hydro-carbons used in the arts were 

 shown, but the speaker devoted most time to setting forth the 

 advantages derived from the bodj'' used as a lubricator. 



The following is the paper of Dr. Vanderweyde, 



On the Requisite Qualities of Lubricators. 

 I have made it a sul)ject of careful study to find out the dilTer- 

 ent qualities required for a perfect lubricator, have carefully 

 analyzed difl'erent lui)ricators, have compared them by means of 

 apparatus constructed for this special purpose, and I have finally 

 come to the conclusion that a perfect lubricator, which will answer 



