AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 187 



cliarged with the composition, is ready at a moment to furnish gas, 

 by the simple turning of a stop-cock, and igniting it at the burner. 

 The moment the stop is opened, the machine is acted upon by the 

 weight, which operates an internal cylindrical pump, bringing the 

 air which passes through the machine in contact with the liquid, 

 and thus generating the gas; and no more gas will be generated 

 than is consumed by the burner or burners ignited, the action of 

 the machine being in proportion to the gas consumed. It is so 

 constructed as to be unlikely to get out of order, is very durable, 

 and can be attended by any person in less time than is required 

 or commonly bestowed in cleaning and trimming the common 

 lamp. 



In one end of it is a glass window, through which the compo- 

 sition is seen, and by which you can always tell when it is suffi- 

 ciently and properly filled with the fluid. The temperature of 

 the mixture, and also that of the surrounding atmosphere, to pro- 

 duce the best light, with this gas, as with all others, should be 

 about 70*^ Fahr., and if the mixture, by the addition of fresh 

 Benzole, should be reduced below this standard, it may quickly 

 be brought up by igniting the jet attached to the under side of 

 the machine. Recent improvements • in the manufacturing of 

 Benzole and other hydro-carbons, make it almost unnecessary to 

 use heat under the machine. Eacli machine has a thermometer 

 in the end of it, to indicate the temperature, and the only atten- 

 tion requisite for use, is to keep it wound up and properly charged 

 with the Benzole from time time, as the amount consumed may 

 require. Fair and full experiment has proved, that this composi- 

 tion produces not only a far better and cheaper light than other 

 gases, but that the cost is less even than that of tallow candles. 



Other considerations, however, in the judgment of many, will 

 commend it with even greater force than those derived from its 

 comparative cheapness. 



Its quality is superior to all other kinds of artificial light. It 

 is far less explosive, and has none of that offensive smell common 

 to coal and rosin gas, and is entirely devoid of all those impurities 

 peculiar to rosin gas, which obstruct the pipes, blacken the walls 

 of the apartments, and render the use of rosin gas so very objec- 

 tionable. 



