PROPERTIES OF BENZOLINE, OR SPONGE-LAMP SPIRIT. 
33 
INDELIBLE MARKING-INK PREPARED FROM ANILINE. 
An indelible marking-ink is prepared from aniline by mixing the two following solu¬ 
tions: a, cupreous solution—8'52 grm. of crystallized chloride of copper, 10 - 65 grm. 
chlorate of soda, and 5‘35 grm. of chloride of ammonium are dissolved in 60 grm. of 
distilled water; b, aniline solution—20 grm. of hydrochlorate of aniline are dissolved in 
30 grm. of distilled water, and 20 grm. of a solution of gum arabic (1 of gum to 2 ot 
water) with 10 grm. of glycerine are added. By mixing in the cold four parts of the 
aniline solution with one part of the cupreous solution, a green liquid is obtained which 
can be used immediately for tracing characters upon linen ; the marks, however, alter 
after the lapse of a few days. It is necessary to keep the solutions separate until re¬ 
quired for use. If the fluid does not flow easily from the pen, it may be diluted with¬ 
out fear of diminishing the intensity of the tint, which, at first green, gradually darkens 
and becomes black. Heat causes the change to take place instantaneously; a steam 
heat is sufficient, and is better for the fabric than a hot iron. Afterwards the linen is 
washed in warm soap and water. This ink resists acids and alkalies, and is remarkably 
permanent.— Chemical Neivs, April 10th, 1868 
THE PROPERTIES OF BENZOLINE, OR SPONGE-LAMP SPIRIT. 
The rapid development of the demand for sponge-lamps and the spirit which they 
burn renders it very important that the shopkeeper who is called upon to deal in the 
spirit should properly understand its properties. This is the more necessary from the 
fact that considerable misapprehension exists in reference to these properties. The 
liquid in question is a very volatile hydrocarbon bearing many names, such as petroleum 
spirit, paraffin spirit, benzoline, spongeline, etc. etc. There are three distinct articles 
to which these names are given almost at random. First, petroleum spirit properly so 
called. This is the more volatile constituent of the crude petroleum, from which it is 
obtained in considerable quantities. It is that which first comes over in the course of 
distillation, and which should always be separated and kept quite distinct from the 
burning oil, or ordinary refined petroleum for lamps. Before the sponge-lamp was in¬ 
vented, when this spirit was a drug in the market, not worth one halfpenny per gallon 
to the American refiner, the American burning oils were largely adulterated with it, and 
to this the explosions that have occurred are to be attributed. Now that it is worth 50 
per cent, more than the burning oil, there is little fear of our American cousins using it 
for the purpose of adulterating the cheaper article, and therefore our ordinary oils are 
now so much safer, that the application of the old tests of igniting-points has almost 
become obsolete. Oils are now far more likely to be too heavy than too light. The 
second kind of spirit, almost identical with the first, is that obtained in like manner from 
cannel and shale oils; it is the more volatile portion of the crude paraffin oil, and is se¬ 
parated in like manner at the first stage of refinery distillation. The manufacturer of 
cannel and shale oils has a smaller proportion of this in his crude than the refiner of pe¬ 
troleum has, inasmuch as in the course of the primary distillation of the cannel, etc., in 
the retort, much of this spirit is decomposed and burned away to waste. The third 
kind is made from the liquid refuse of gas-works, and really contains a good deal of 
benzole. The best of these is the petroleum spirit, and the worst is the third kind. 
Very little of this latter is, however, in the market. As all these are dangerous articles, 
it is quite necessary that the dealer in them should know how to store and handle them, 
and also that he should be disabused of the false terrors which prevail in some quarters. 
In the first place these liquids are combustible , but not explosive. There is an important 
practical as well as theoretical distinction here, which should be clearly understood. 
Any substance which will burn by combining with the oxygen of the atmosphere is 
combustible: paper, wood, coal, sulphur, etc. etc., are examples of this. None of these 
will burn without a supply of air. On the other hand, gunpowder, nitro-glycerine, 
gun-cotton, and the fulminates (such as are used for percussion-caps, etc.), will burn 
without being supplied with air, because they contain within themselves the oxygen 
necessary for the combustion of their other combustible materials. The first class of 
substances, those which require a supply of air, can only burn on their surface, where 
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