ARGAND BURNER, the first scientifically constructed oil burner, was invented by A. Argand of Geneva in 1784. It con sisted of a cylindrical wick confined between two concentric tubes; this device gave a circular flame with a current of air brought to play upon its inner surface. A glass chimney increased the draught and improved the illumination. Nearly a century later, Murdock, the pioneer of gas-lighting, adapted the Argand idea of two concentric circular pipes in the designing of gas burners (see LIGHTING).