BURNING FLUID. 381 



and fired through a small hole punched in the side. On 

 applying a lighted taper to the opening, the can explodes 

 with a loud report, and is torn to pieces by the force 

 of the escaping gases. The small proportion of fluid 

 remaining in the can, after every drop that can be 

 poured out is removed, is sufficient to produce this 

 effect. 



955. EXPLANATION. The principle of 



What is the 



cause of the the explosion is precisely the same as that 

 explosion? involved in the same experiment with hy- 

 drogen and air. The only variation consists in the sub- 

 stitution of the combustible vapor of alcohol and cam- 

 phene, for hydrogen gas. It is the mixture of alcohol 

 vapor, and air, to which the effect is to be principally 

 ascribed ; the experiment may be made, indeed, as 

 well with unmixed alcohol, or ether, as with burning- 

 fluid. It may also be made with camphene, but in this 

 case the vessel must be warmed, in order to vaporize 

 the liquid in sufficient quantity. 



956. The above experiment may be 



Describe an- /. j .-, c , i -u 



other form of performed with safety, in an open vial, by 

 the expert- vaporizing a drop or two of either of the 

 above liquids within it, and then apply- 

 ing a lighted taper to the mouth. In this case, the ap- 

 pearance of flame at the mouth of the vial, and a 

 rushing noise, is all that is observed. This experiment 

 will enable the student to disprove the alleged unex- 

 plosive character of certain fluids in use for purposes 

 of illumination. In moderately warm weather it is 

 sufficient to fill the vial, and then to empty it, in order 

 to form the explosive atmosphere. 



