48 
THE CHEMIST AND DRUGGIST. 
October, 1881. 
the whole vegetation of the earth. It can easily be understood 
that the air of a thickly wooded district will be always in a 
damp condition, while one with a scanty vegetation will be 
dry ; and hence we conclude that a country to be perfectly 
healthy should have the proportion of plants carefully pre- 
served. It has also an important bearing upon the fertility of 
the soil, and thus, indirectly, upon the health of the inha- 
bitants. Many regions, once remarkable for their fertility, 
now are barren wastes through neglect of these facts. 
To quote the forcible language of our eminent botanist, 
Baron von Mueller — “ The existence of many an invalid might 
be prolonged and rendered more enjoyable, while many a 
sufferer might be restored to health, were he timely to embrace 
the patriarchic simplicity of forest life, and were he to seek 
the pure air, wafted decarbonised in delicious freshness 
through the forest, ever to invigorate strength and restore ex- 
hilaration and buoyancy of mind. Let us regard forests as an 
inheritance given to us by nature, not to be despoiled or 
devastated, but to be wisely used, reverently honoured, and 
carefully maintained. Let us regard the forests as a gift 
entrusted to us only for transient care, to be surrendered to 
posterity as an unimpaired property, increased in riches and 
augmented in blessings ; to pass as a sacred patrimony from 
generation to generation.” 
NON-EXPLOSIVE KEROSENE. 
Very frequently of late we have received from correspondents, 
east and west, samples of “ stuff” sold them by peddlers, with 
the assurance that when a little of these preparations are 
mixed with the poorest burning oil the latter is rendered per- 
fectly safe. Of course one of the chief inducements to use 
these compositions is the assurance that with them a much 
cheaper oil of equal illuminating power can be used safely. 
This fraud is a very dangerous one, and perhaps the best way 
to stop it is by the diffusion of a little practical information 
respecting these oils. 
In the first place, there is nothing that can be added to or 
mixed with poor kerosene oil that will in the least affect its 
dangerous qualities, or make it any safer to use in lamps. The 
danger with such oils arises solely from the presence in them 
of light, easily volatilised, and very inflammable hydro-carbons, 
such as naphtha, the vapour of which, when mixed with air, 
explodes on contact with flame. 
Kerosene and naphtha, or benzine, are derived by a process 
of distillation from the same substance — petroleum. The 
lighter oils — gasoline, naphtha, benzine, &c. — are first vola- 
tilised and condensed. As the products distil over they are 
tested from time to time with a hydrometer, and when it is 
found that the stream of distilled oil marks about 58 deg. 
(Baume’s hydrometer), what follows is turned into another 
tank, until it is found that the gravity of the oil coming over 
has risen to about 40 deg., then the stream is deflected into 
another tank. The oil distilled between 58 deg. and 38 deg. is 
called kerosene or burning oil. 
In this process about 15 per cent, of the light oils are pro- 
duced, and, as there is comparatively little demand for them, 
they are very cheap. Naphtha costs from two to five cents a 
gallon, while good kerosene costs from twenty to twenty-five 
cents. As great competition exists among the refiners, there 
is a strong inducement to turn the heavier portions of the 
naphtha into the kerosene tank, so as to get for it the price 
of kerosene, or to cheapen the latter. They change the 
direction of the stream from the still when it reaches 65 deg. 
to 60 deg. B., instead of waiting until it reaches 58 deg.; and 
thus the volatile inflammable naphtha or benzine is allowed to 
run into the kerosene, rendering the whole of the latter 
dangerous. It has been shown that one per cent, of naphtha 
will lower the flashing point of kerosene ten degrees, while 
with 20 per cent, of naphtha the same oil will flash at 8 deg. 
(Fahr.) above the freezing point of water. It is, therefore, 
the cupidity of the refiner that leads him to run as much ben- 
zine as possible into the kerosene, regardless of the conse- 
quences. 
The specific gravity is not a safe guide respecting the 
character of such oils, as a poor, dangerous oil may be heavier 
than a safe oil. Astral oil illustrates this. While it does not 
flash below 125 deg. Fahr., its gravity is 49 deg. B. Poor 
kerosene flashes at 86 deg. Fahr., but has a gravity of 47 deg. B. 
Kerosene when properly refined is nearly colourless by trans- 
mitted light and slightly fluorescent by reflected light. Its 
density should be about 43 deg. B. At ordinary temperatures 
it should extinguish a match as readily as water, without 
becoming inflamed or flashing , and when heated it should not 
evolve an inflammable vapour below 110 deg. Fahr., and should 
not take fire below 125 deg. to 140 deg. Fahr. 
As the temperature in a burning lamp rarely exceeds 100 
deg. Fahr., such an oil would be safe. It would produce no 
vapours to mix with the air in the lamp and make an explo- 
sive mixture, and if the lamp were overturned or broken the 
oil would not take fire. 
The standard which has generally been adopted by law as a 
safe one fixes the flashing point at 100 deg. Fahr., or higher. 
Professor Chandler, president of the New York city board 
of health, says : — “ Out of 736 samples of kerosene oil tested 
by me, only 28 were really safe, all the rest evolving inflam- 
mable vapour below 100 deg. Fahr.” In his paper on the 
temperature of oil in lamps ( American Chemist. August, 1872, 
p. 43), Dr. Chandler has shown that in some cases the 
temperature of their contents often rises above 100 deg. Fahr. 
— Scientific A merican. 
Varnish for Preventing Rust.— A varnish for this pur- 
pose may be made of 120 parts resin, 180 sandarac, 50 gum 
lac. They should be heated gradually until melted, and 
thoroughly mixed, then 120 parts of turpentine added, and 
subsequently, after heating, 180 parts rectified alcohol. After 
careful filtration, it should be put into tightly-corked bottles. 
Certain Facts towards the History of Phosphores- 
cence. — Phosphorus in an atmosphere of pure oxygen is not 
luminous, but the introduction of a bubble of ozone sets up 
phosphorescence for a moment. Oil of turpentine prevents 
phosphorescence, and it possesses the property of destroying 
ozone. The illumination of phosphorous in oxygen by means 
of ozone is a means of detecting the presence of the latter. — 
J Clwppuis. 
Boohs , J'c., Received. — The Australian Medical Journal for 
October ; the American Journal of Pharmacy ; the Drug- 
gists' Circular , New York; the Pharmaceutical Journal; 
the Australasian Medical Gazette ; and Messrs. Langton, 
Edden, Hicks and Clark’s “ Market Report” of 26th August, 
which states that the dulness of trade which characterised 
produce and chemical markets at the date of our last issue has 
given way to some extent, and a slight activity is noticeable, 
and more especially in the latter. 
THE PHARMACY BOARD OF VICTORIA. 
T HEREBY give notice that at an Election of a Member 
of the Pharmacy Board of Victoria, vice John Kruse, 
resigned, held before me at No. 4 Mutual Provident 
Buildings, Collins-street, Melbourne, on Monday, the 
10th of October, 1881, Cuthbert Robert Blackett, Esq., 
of Gertrude-street, Fitzroy, was duly elected unopposed ; 
and I therefore declare the said C. R. Blackett a Member 
of the Pharmacy Board of Victoria. 
ALLAN THOMAS BEST, 
Returning Officer. 
Dated at Melbourne, the 10th October, 1881. 
1J\ H E ANNUAL DINNER 
Of the 
PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY OF VICTORIA, 
In Aid of the 
BENEVOLENT FUND, 
Will be held at 
CLEMENT’S CAFE, SWANSTON STREET, 
On Wednesday, the 16th Nov., 1881, 
At Eight o’clock p.m. 
Tickets, One Guinea each, can be obtained on applica- 
tion to Mr. Shillinglaw, at the Office, 100 Collins-street, 
or from any member of the Council. 
