AnAu"u"t*  SS**"}  Physiological  Characteristics  of  Acetylene.  363 
15  to  60  Cc.,  will  be  sufficient  to  give  a  fairly  pronounced  taste.  The 
samples  submitted  contain  in  each  500  Cc.  the  following  amounts  of 
essential  oils  :  Almond,  15  drops  ;  cloves,  10  drops  ;  anethol,  10  drops  ; 
cinnamon,  5  drops  ;  peppermint,  15  drops  ;  spearmint,  15  drops  ;  sweet 
birch,  25  drops ;  wintergreen,  25  drops ;  and  aromatic,  using  the  oils 
constituting  spirit  aromaticus  comp.,  15  drops. 
Another  interesting  phase  of  the  examination  is  the  various 
prices  charged  for  these  paraffin  oils,  tlfose  with  fancy  coined  names 
commanding  very  much  more  than  other  oils  on  the  open  market,  and 
all,  or  nearly  all,  coming  from  the  same  source  and  possibly  the  same 
importer.  As  has  been  pointed  out  by  Mr.  Wilbert,  the  better  or  fine 
grades  come  from  Russia,  hence  the  name  Russian  Mineral  Oil;  the 
American  oil  usually  has  a  fluorescence,  slightly  yellow  in  color,  and 
a  more  pronounced  petroleum  odor  when  heated.  The  best  grades  of 
Russian  oil  can  be  purchased  for  about  80  cents  a  gallon,  while  those 
with  trade  or  coined  names  will  cost  from  40  to  60  cents  a  pint. 
The  pharmacist  should  be,  and  is,  able  to  supply  physicians  and  his 
patients  with  an  oil  of  high  quality,  reasonable  in  price,  and  should 
avail  himself  of  the  present  opportunity.  An  oil  of  at  least  the  sp.  gr. 
.8750  that  is  colorless,  tasteless,  and  free  from  fluorescence,  that  will 
not  show  more  than  a  pale  brown  color  with  the  sulphuric  acid  test, 
free  from  admixture  with  animal  or  vegetable  oils,  and  remains  clear 
when  subjected  to  a  temperature  of  o°  C.  for  four  hours,  seems  to  be 
the  oil  most  desired  and,  if  demanded,  can  readily  be  obtained. 
THE  PHYSIOLOGICAL  CHARACTERISTICS  OF  ACETY- 
LENE, WITH  RESPECT  TO  ITS  USE  IN  MINING.*  ■ 
By  E.  E.  Smith,  Ph.D.,  M.D. 
Like  every  other  step  in  the  progress  of  civilization,  the  use  of 
acetylene  involves  certain  readjustments  of  previous  notions.  In 
the  art  of  illumination,  these  problems  of  adjustment  have  been 
particularly  definite  and  impelling.  Thus,  the  pine  knot  did  not  give 
way  to  the  candle,  probably,  without  anxious  consideration  of  the 
danger  of  spattering,  soot  making,  and  extinction  by  drafts.  Many 
*  A  paper  read  at  a  meeting  of  the  International  Acetylene  Association, 
late  in  1913,  for  a  report  of  which  the  Quarterly  is  indebted  to  Secretary 
A.  C.  Morrison,  42d  St.,  Building,  New  York.  Reprinted  from  the  School 
of  Mines  Quarterly,  vol.  xxxv.,  1914,  pp.  143-153. 
