230 Transactions of the American Institute. 



these oils non- explosive and safe, and make experiments to prove 

 their statements. They pour some of the oil into a can and apply a 

 flame, when it takes fire and burns without exploding, simply because 

 they have taken care not to mingle the air and vapor in the proper 

 explosive proportions. An excess of either prevents explosion. 



Naphtha is not explosive ; vapor of naphtha is not explosive ; it is 

 a mixture of naphtha vapor and air, in certain definite proportions, 

 which is explosive. If, in experimenting, we do not hit the proper 

 proportions, we fail to produce an explosion. Any oil that will emit 

 an inflammable vapor at any temperature below 100° F., is liable to 

 form explosive mixtures of vapor and air, and is dangerous. I know 

 of no process by which the lighter products of petroleum, gasoline, 

 naphtha and benzine can be made non-explosive or safe, nor do I 

 believe that there is any such process. If any oil takes fire at ordi- 

 nary temperatures, or below 110° F., it is proof positive that it is 

 dangerous, and no argument or experiment can prove.anything to the 

 contrary. 



This coat on its iron frame is a good representation for our pur- 

 poses of a victim to kerosene. I will drench him with good kerosene ; 

 you see now that though I hold a candle to him he is in no danger. 

 I will now throw a little of Smith's " Safety Oil " upon him ; you see 

 the moment the candle is brought near him he bursts into flames. 

 I will save the poor wretch from a painful death by bringing the 

 Babcock Fire Extinguisher to bear upon him. I have put him out ; 

 but were he human his days would be numbered, as a painful death 

 would be sure to follow such frightful burns as those he has suffered 

 , from Mr. Smith's safety oil. It is said, and I believe with trutli, that 

 the burning of a square foot of the human body is sure to cause 

 death. Before leaving this portion of the subject, I want to show 

 you how safe it is possible to make petroleum oil. I have here a 

 pail containing three gallons of Downer's " Mineral Sperm Oil." 

 Into it I will plunge this mass of cotton waste till it becomes satura- 

 ted with the oil ; now as I raise it you see it is dripping with the oil. 

 On holding the candle to the oily mass you see I have considerable 

 difficulty in setting it on fire, but by heating it in one spot I shall 

 finally heat a portion to a temperature above 300° Fahrenheit, its 

 burning point when it will take fire. Now you see I have succeeded in 

 starting combustion, and the burning oil quickly heats the rest of the 

 mass till we have now a flame ten or fifteen feet high. You need 

 not feel alarmed, for I have the flames entirely under my control. I 

 will now plunge the burning mass into the pail of oil ; you see it is 



