the source of eight, heat, colour, etc. 217 



From Rangoon Tar : — 



Belmontine ; after Belmont, the name of Price's Candle Factory. 



From Boghead Mineral : — 



Saxoline, or stone oil — from Saxum, a stone. 



Paraffine oil. 

 And besides these, there is the German oil from bituminous shales 

 — sold as " Mineral oil." These all vary in colour and purity ; the 

 sp. gr. ranging from about "800 to "830, upon which the illumi- 

 nating power, doubtless, mainly depends, and it would be interest- 

 ing to test, by actual experiment, the relative value of oils having diffe- 

 rent weights, all other things being equal. The character of the light 

 yielded by these oils is all that can be desired ; and when burnt in 

 properly constructed lamps, their light is superior to gas. Floating 

 rumours of danger, and difficulty in the management of Paraffine lamps 

 alone prevent their more general adoption, whilst there is also great 

 objection manifested to the odour which almost invariably attends their 

 use. As regards the first-mentioned complaint, that appears to be a com- 

 plete misapprehension ; for all Paraffine oils having a sp. gr. higher than 

 "800 are non-inflammable without the aid of a wick, and any oil lower in 

 the scale of weights is not sold for lamp use, except by ignorant or incom- 

 petent tradesmen. Some of the American oils — Kerosene, &c— are certainly 

 inflammable without a wick, but I cannot say that is the case with them 

 all, not having sufficient experience to make such an assertion. Professor 

 Herapath's advice, published in the 'Times' of the 13th January, will, at 

 any rate, enable the public to protect themselves to a considerable extent 

 from any danger — and I copy the pith of it here. He writes : " Let two or 

 three drops of oil be allowed to fall upon a plate or saucer, and apply to 

 them a lighted match ; if the flame spreads over the surface of the drops, 

 the oil should on no account be used, as it will, under many circumstances 

 prove explosive. The genuine paraffine, or petroline, will not burn except 

 upon a wick." The difficulty of management, supposed to be inseparably 

 connected with the paraffine lamps is also another delusion ; the only pre- 

 caution and care necessary to insure success being a perfectly even wick, 

 free from all carbonized matter. As regards the odour of the paraffine, 

 that is an evil immensely aggravated by spilling the oil in filling up the 

 reservoirs, and which, with greater care in the operation, can be easily 

 avoided. Still a strong and unpleasant perfume appears to be almost 

 inherent in these oils, although at an additional expense, much of it may 

 be removed. Price's Belmontine is about the best specimen of paraffine oil 

 at present offered to the public, having no perceptible colour, and com- 

 paratively little smell. I do not know if it burns without the intervention 

 of a wick. Saxoline, and some of the German oils, are next in order 

 of merit, and lower in price ; and there are some oils of a veiy inferior 

 type, high coloured, abominable in odour, and proportionately cheap. 



Before leaving this part of my subject, I would allude to the great 

 necessity there is for care and precision in the distillation of these oils, 



