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6. It should be free from any considerable quantity of 
sulphur, and should not progressively decay, both of which 
circumstances render it liable to spontaneous combustion. 
The compressed peat is entirely free from sulphurets, and 
is not liable to spontaneous combustion. 
Messrs. Gwynne and Co. have patented a compound 
solidified peat fuel, in which peat tar is mixed with the 
peat previous to solidification. Dr. Letheby reports on it as 
follows : — " The sp. grav. of the block is as high as 1,140, and 
its structure exceedingly hard and dense. The .actual stow- 
age weight of one cubic foot of the material is 71.24 lbs. 
avoirdupois; that of Newcastle coal being about 49.69 lbs. 
It contains 9 per cent, of hydrometric moisture." Specimens 
of this fuel are on the table. 
MANUFACTURE OF GAS FROM PEAT. 
By the distillation of peat a large portion of gas is 
evolved, as much as 13,216 cubic feet per ton, which, when 
naphthalised, is capable of being used as a source of light — 
peat gas has the advantage of being entirely free from 
sulphur. 
In some experiments on this compressed peat, Dr. Letheby 
found "that one pound of peat produced 6.25 cubic feet of 
gas, which, when burnt at the rate of five cubic feet per 
hour, from an argand burner with 15 holes and a seven inch 
chimney, gave a light equal to seven sperm candles, each 
burning at the rate of 120 grains per hour. The rate per 
ton would be about 14,000 cubic feet. The gas when puri- 
fied by passing through an alkaline mixture, was found to be 
entirely free from sulphur, and in this respect it has great 
advantages over coal gas, for the products of its combustion 
are wholly harmless in respect of their action on books, 
drapery, and other perishable fabrics." 
