PARAFFIN 503 



paraffins still higher in the series are known to exist. By removal of two atoms of 

 hydrogen, any member of tho series may be removed into that of the defines : thus, 

 ethane 2H gives olefiant gas. Beginning with highly permanent gases, the paraffin 

 series passes 'gradually into very volatile liquids, thence through those of less vola- 

 tility into solids melting a little over ordinary temperature, and up by higher-melting 

 solids to one fusing as high as 176 Fahr. The petroleum of commerce consists 

 entirely of this series ; whilst the p so-called paraffin oils contain only th or Jth part 

 of it, their other constituents being mainly olefines. 



The softest of the solid paraffins boil over 600 F. ; but those of the highest melting- 

 point only decompose slightly by distillation. Chlorine passed through melted paraffin 

 gradually converts it into a thick clear liquid like castor oil ; but, by longer continued 

 action, changes it to a brittle solid. Bromine acts on paraffin when both are heated 

 together in sealed tubes. When equal quantities of sulphur and paraffin are heated 

 together, a current of pure sulphuretted hydrogen is generated. Sulphuric acid, 

 heated to a very high temperature, chars paraffin on contact, with evolution of 

 sulphurous acid. Nitric acid reacts on it, producing an oily nitro-compound, and also 

 acids of the succinic and butyric series. 



The manufacture of paraffin and paraffin oils from cannel and shales has now 

 become one of the important branches of national industry. The rapidity of its de- 

 velopment is almost unexampled. 



At the expiry, in 1861, of the patent of Messrs. Young & Co., a long list of wealthy 

 and influential companies embarked in this new industry, principally in the Bathgate 

 oil district, which has extended throughout nearly the whole of Linlithgow, and en- 

 croaches upon Edinburghshire ; and the Leeswood oil district in Flintshire. But the 

 great importation of American petroleum brought on a crisis in 1866 ; and ever since, 

 through various causes, this new manufacture has been dwarfed from its first antici- 

 pated gigantic dimensions. 



The Scotch oil works are almost exclusively supplied with shales, of which the 

 most important is the Boghead or Torbane Hill mineral, the technical definition of 

 which, whether coal or shale, was once the subject of so warm a controversy. It is 

 found a little to the south of Bathgate. It takes precedence of all the raw materials 

 for the distillation of paraffin and paraffin oils, both historically and in point of rich- 

 ness. It was the material originally worked by Mr. Young, as above described ; but 

 the limited basin containing it is now virtually worked out. The other shales of tho 

 district vary considerably in richness, both as regards the quantity and quality of the 

 distilled products. See SHALES and MINERAL OILS. 



In Flintshire three varieties of material were used : the curly cannel, the smooth 

 cannel, and the bottom shale or ' bastard cannel.' But the high price now given for 

 them by gas-makers has withdrawn the first two minerals from the raw material of 

 the oil-manufacturer. The demonstration of their value as sources of paraffin, &c. is 

 due entirely to the persevering efforts of Mr. W. C. Hussey Jones, during the years of 

 1861 and 1862, which finally resulted in the formation of the ' Leeswood-Green Cannel 

 and Gas-Coal Company,' and the oil works of Messrs. Fernie & Co., at Leeswood in 

 Flintshire, and at Saltney in Cheshire. 



The Leeswood cannel-seam is from 5 to 6 feet thick in the best portions of the 

 basin, which is but of a very limited area, and thins out at its boundaries. The upper 

 portion of the seam consists of the smooth cannel, having a thickness of about 25 

 to 30 inches ; next below is the curly cannel, about 18 inches in thickness ; and 

 below this the shale or bastard cannel, which varies considerably, both in thickness 

 and richness. It ranges from about 14 inches to 2 feet in thickness. In some places, 

 especially to the westward of Leeswood, this shale is replaced by a common bitumi- 

 nous coal, which, adhering firmly to the smooth cannels, seriously interferes with its 

 value as a source of burning-oil ; the distillate from this coal containing oils of the 

 benzole and naphthaline series, giving red smoky flames. Northward, beyond the 

 river Alyn, and towards Mold, the whole seam thins out to 18 or 24 inches, and con- 

 tains only smooth cannel. 



Besides these, there is a bituminous ironstone similar to the 'black-band ironstone' 

 of Scotland, which comes in irregularly with the bottom shale ; and a black shalo 

 forming the roof above the smooth. Both of these contain oil, but have not hitherto 

 been regxilarly worked. 



Curly cannel yields upon distillation about 30 per cent, of crude oil, of specific 

 gravity varying from 875 to 890 ; smooth cannel, about 16 per cent, of crude oil, of 

 specific gravity from 925 to 940 ; and the shale, whicli is very variable, yields from 

 12 to 15 per cent, of oil, specific gravity about 900. 



As cannels yielding a coke are limited in area, and are valuable in gas-making, it 

 is now found commercially unprofitable to use them in oil-making. All the Welsh 

 seams above described, except the lowest one, are no longer put into the retorts ; 



