and certainly of different flavors, a comparison of which cannot be easily made in figures, and as has been shown, were considerably unlike in strength. Lack of time prevented examining a larger number of samples of fermented liquors. KEROSENES. A few samples of kerosene have been analyzed so far as to determine their specific gravity and flashing-point. The danger in the use of petroleum products is proportioned to their inflammability, and it is a matter of high importance to know whether the oil we are using is one that will flash at a low or a comparatively high point. The old law of Congress fixed the burning-point- that is, the point at which the oil may be kindled with a burning match-at 110° F. This law has, unfortunately, been repealed. The fire laws of New York fix the burning-point at 100° F., which is too low. The law of Maine, of 1868, does not permit the sale of oil which will not stand a fire test of 120° F. The danger in the use of kerosene containing benzine or naphtha arises from the fact that the naphtha or benzine vapor, when mixed with air in the right proportion, forms an exceedingly explosive mixture, which, upon contact with flame, as in the breaking of a lamp, or by communication established between the reservoir of the lamps and its own flame, explodes with disastrous consequences. A That these accidents occur almost daily, in spite of all warnings, is patent to those who read the daily papers. few per cent. of naphtha or benzine will make an oil dangerous, yet this same oil may have a burning-point above 110° F. The "flashing-test," therefore, i. e. the determination of the degree of temperature at which an oil evolves, or rather begins to evolve, explosive vapors, is the test that alone should be trusted in examining suspected burning fluids. An elaborate series of experiments made by Prof. C. F. Chandler, upon burning kerosene oil in lamps of glass, brass, tin and bronze, show that in trials extending over a time of seven hours, in only one instance did the temperature of the oil in the lamp reach 100° F., the lowest in twenty-three trials being 79° F., and the highest, with the above exception, 95°.75. This shows that an oil which does not evolve an explosive vapor below 100° F., and does not itself take fire below 110° F., is safe for use in ordinary lamps. Oils which emit a combustible vapor at temperatures below 100° F., if sold at all, should be put up in packages marked dangerous," and buyers should take and use them knowing the risks to which they subject themselves and their families. I may add here, that of 636 (six hundred and thirty-six) samples of oils tested by order of the New York Board of Health in 1869, only 21 (twenty-one) were found to be safe. Two hundred and eighty were classed "dangerous," three hundred and six "highly dangerous," and twenty-nine were simply naphthas, benzines and gasolines, sold as "safety oils." The comparative small number of oils tested by myself show so far as the research goes that oils are sold in this market that will not stand the flashing-test of 100° F.; but, so far, no sample of unmixed naphtha-sold for illuminating oil — has been brought in for examination. The following table gives the specific gravity and the flashing-point, which last was determined in careful conformity to Prof. Chandler's rules: Of twenty-two specimens, only two, or one-eleventh of the whole, satisfied the requirement of the 100° F. flashing-test. In connection with kerosene and its use, another matter has been examined, viz.: preparations professing to "purify" kerosene oil, and to render dangerous and explosive oil safe. It has been well said of these patents and secret processes, that they are not only ridiculous, but their sale to ignorant persons is a crime only equalled by murder. To a chemist the notion that the addition of a few grains of an inert substance to a gallon of benzine will prevent its vapor from exploding when brought in contact with a flame, is simply ludicrous; but the success of the irresponsible and itinerant salesmen depends upon the gross ignorance of the buyers. It is impossible to render light oils inexplosive and safe in spite of the patents to the contrary. The usual trick, viz. : putting a few grains of the patented preparation into benzine, turning the benzine out of the bottle, and applying a lighted match to the mouth, no explosion following, is no test at all, as it requires a good deal of skill and management to obtain just the right mixture of air and vapor required for an explosion, although, of course, this mixture may occur at any time in the use of the burning fluid. Two or three preparations have been analyzed; one professing to prevent explosions, and another labelled, "Dr. A. R. Bicknell's OLEO, a French chemical preparation for purifying kerosene oil. Directions: One half-teaspoonful in the lamp, once in 60 days. Price 75 cents." This, upon analysis, proved to be potash alum, finely powdered and colored with some pink aniline dye. The box, powder and color, could not have cost more than two cents, and the action of the powder upon kerosene or benzine would be exactly nothing. The firstnamed preparation was common salt, colored pink. There is a third powder in the market sold as a means of rendering dangerous oils safe, and to keep lamp chimneys from breaking, of which I have not had a sample. POISONOUS HAIR DYES AND COSMETICS. A few samples of these preparations have been analyzed, with results shown below. The list first given embraces hair dyes and "invigorators." The preparations examined are the following: 1. Hoyt's Hiawatha Hair Restorative, David Wright, proprietor. 2. Chevalier's Life for the Hair. Prepared by S. A. Chevalier, M.D., 1123 Broadway, New York. 3. Ayer's Hair Vigor. Prepared by J. C. Ayer & Co., Lowell, Mass. 4. Phalon's Vitalia. Prepared by Phalon & Son, 517 Broadway, N. Y. 5. Ring's Vegetable Ambrosia. E. M. Tubbs & Co., Peterboro', N. H. 6. Mrs. S. A. Allen's World's Hair Restorer. 7. Hall's Vegetable Sicilian Hair Renewer. R. P. Hall & Co., Nashua, N. H. 8. Martha Washington Hair Restorative. 9. Singer's Hair Restorative. 10. Gray's Celebrated Hair Restorative. The foregoing were analyzed, and the amounts of metal contained in them carefully determined. As many of them consisted of a liquid and a sediment, it was necessary to analyze them separately. No. 1. This was a nearly colorless liquid with a blackish sediment. It proved to be a solution of nitrate of silver in ammonia. It contains no metal except silver, and of the nitrate of this it has 5.37 grains in each fluid ounce. No. 2. This is a yellowish liquid, with a darker sediment. The liquid contains lead, and the sediment lead and sulphur. reckoned as metallic-in fluid, .21 grains per fluid oz. in sediment,-* 66 66 Sulphur, est. on total bulk of preparat'n, 12.78 Lead 66 No. 3. A clear liquid, with a yellowish sediment. constituent parts were a sort of lead and sulphur. The Sulphur, 2.38 12.00 * Present, but analysis lost. 66 |