32 



THE BOOK OF THE LANTERN. 



which have occurred during its use, but more from certain 

 catastrophes which have taken place during the preli- 

 minary operation of making oxygen gas. There should be 

 no danger whatever about this operation if only ordinary 

 precautions are taken. But some people seem to be unable 

 to do things except in a haphazard manner, and they 

 sooner or later pay the penalty for their carelessness. 



The most important point to begin with is to have 

 proper apparatus ; and by this I do not mean the most ex- 

 pensive, for this is just as often as not faulty in point of 



FIG. 16. 



construction. The articles required are : A retort in 

 which to generate the gas; a stove for heating that retort 

 (preferably a gas ring-burner) ; a wash bottle, or purifier ; 



