360 Mr. F. A. Abel on some results of Experiments 



so to the effects of friction or percussion. The only Congreve 

 match examined which was prepared with nitrate of potassa and 

 phosphorus (and contained an admixture of glass), though mo- 

 derately sensitive to the effects of heat, ranked lowest as regarded 

 its sensitiveness to ignition by friction or percussion ; and the 

 same observation applies to all the matches which contained 

 nitrate of lead in the place of chlorate of potassa. 



Observations relating to the possible sources of accident in the 

 transport of Matches. 



The results of experimental observations, of which the prin- 

 cipal points have been noted in the foregoing, prove conclusively 

 that no degree of heat to which, under all ordinary circum- 

 stances, matches are likely to be exposed in their transport or 

 otherwise, would suffice to lead to their spontaneous ignition. 

 Even a temperature such as, for example, can be attained only 

 under exceptional conditions by the atmosphere in the hold of a 

 vessel, would not, unaided, bring about the ignition of the more 

 sensitive matches. 



The effect, however, of even a very moderate degree of heat in 

 facilitating the ignition, by friction or percussion, of mixtures 

 such as those with which the tips of the matches are prepared, 

 is well known, and admits of easy demonstration. It may be 

 readily shown by means of matches themselves. If a box full 

 of lucifer matches (e. g. one of the more carefully made and 

 pretty tightly closing slide boxes), in which the matches, as is 

 very generally the case, are not sufficiently long to fill the box 

 entirely, be subject to repeated concussion, in such a way that 

 the heads of the matches strike repeatedly with some violence 

 against oue end of the box, a proportion of the matches will 

 eventually inflame (the number ignited and the rapidity of the 

 ignition being regulated by the sensitiveness of the match) ; but 

 the composition upon the head of the match alone burns, and 

 the flame generally does not even spread from the head of the 

 match ignited to those immediately surrounding it \ so that only 

 isolated matches will be inflamed in a box full with all the heads 

 placed in one direction. If, however, a box of the same matches 

 be exposed to a heated atmosphere (from 27° to 37° C.) suffici- 

 ently long for the matches to become warm throughout, the 

 extent to which it will be necessary to submit them to concus- 

 sion before ignition occurs will be comparatively very slight, 

 and in all probability the whole of the matches in the box will 

 become inflamed almost simultaneously. In common match- 

 boxes, with which this experiment has been tried, and which did 

 not close at all tightly, the wood of the matches was partially 

 burned, and the box itself caught fire at the edges. 



