THE METHODS OF FIRE-MAKING. 407 



129973, IT. S. National Museum), secured from the Essex Institute at 

 Salem, by Prof. F. W. Putuam. The date is about 1833, and they 

 were made in England (PI. Li.) Quite a common name for them was 

 " loco-focos," evidently of Eoman derivation. At first the chlorate of 

 potash lucifers were called " congreves " on account of crackling like 

 a congreve rocket. The composition in mauy of these matches melted 

 and dropped while burning. These defects, however, were soon rem- 

 edied with the production of "noiseless lucifers." 



The next step was to employ phosphorus, rendering matches easily 

 ignitible with lower temperature and less exertion. A phosphorous 

 match will ignite at 140 degrees, while it is probable that the lucifer re- 

 quired at least 200 degrees. The use of phosphorus for matches dates 

 probably from 1832, being 172 years after the discovery of that element 

 by Brandt, a Hamburg chemist. 



Ghan and Scheele have the credit of preparing phosphorous, com- 

 mercially, from bone. The manufacture of phosphorous matches was 

 attended with great danger to workmen from the fumes, which caused 

 necrosis of the jaw. Many persons were poisoned from carelessuess in 

 handling these matches, and many conflagrations occurred on account 

 of the ease with which they ignited. The "parlor match" (name sig- 

 nificant that other matches were hardly suitable for that section of the 

 house) really began with the manufacture, in 1818, of Schrotter's red or 

 amorphous phosphorus. This product is of a scarlet-red color, has 

 neither odor nor taste, is not poisonous, so far as is known, and does 

 not take fire at ordinary temperatures. It is said, however, to absorb 

 moisture from the atmosphere. There are many formulas for the com- 

 position of matches at present used by manufacturers that give good 

 results. 



The latest important invention in matches secures the separation of 

 the chemicals, which, in combination, are always more or less danger- 

 ous. The safety-match was invented by a Swede named Luudstrom, at 

 Joiidkoping, Sweden, in 1855 or 185G. The head of the safety-match 

 contains chlorate of potash and sulphur, while the friction-paper is 

 spread with a i)aste of amorphous phosphorus and antimony. This is 

 a return to first principles as shown in the splints and acid of the 

 "light box." 



There are many varieties of matches now in vogue. The most nota- 

 ble are the " Vestas," of which the splint is waxed cord; "fusees," for 

 lighting in a wind, with a thick, short splint tipped with a large mass 

 of chlorate of potash composition; "natural gas" matches, with a 

 very long splint for lighting natural-gas fires. Besides these there are 

 as many brands of matches as of cigars. 



PRODUCTION OF MATCHES. 



What was formerly a small industry, or the domestic duty of the 

 " handy " boy, has grown to a manufacture of enormous and rapidly 



