CARBON DISULPHIDE, or SULPHO CARBONIC ACID, CS,, a liquid formed when the vapor of sulphur is passed over red hot charcoal and the resulting gases cooled in a condenser. Under normal conditions it is a very volatile, inflammable liquid, with a spe cific gravity of 1.29 and boiling at 115° F. It burns with a blue flame, giving off sulphurous and carbonic acid gases. Burned in a Bunsen burner, with proper precautions against ex plosion, it produces a flame of actinic power exceeding that of burning magnesium. A special light for photographic purposes is pro duced by burning a mixture of vapor of carbon disulphide and nitric oxide, which yields a bluish flame rich in actinic rays. Mixed with three parts of oxygen, or an equivalent (in oxygen) of atmospheric air, the vapor forms a dangerously explosive mixture. Practically the whole commercial supply of carbon disul phide is made from coke and sulphur in the electric furnace. (See ELECTRO-CHEMICAL IN DUSTRIES). The commercial disulphide has an exceedingly disagreeable smell, but this is due to the presence of impurities. The pure liquid, produced by simple distillation, has a pleasant, ethereal smell. Carbon disulphide (or bisul phide) dissolves sparingly in water, in the pro portion of 1 part in 1,000, forming a valuable disinfectant. It mixes freely, however, with alcohol, ether, benzene and the fixed oils in almost every proportion. It dissolves sulphur, phosphorus, caoutchouc and insoluble other or ganic bodies that are almost nsoluble in other menstrua, and it is to this property that it owes its commercial value. It is used in largest quantity in the rubber goods manufacture, not only in the preparation of a cement, but also in the making of rubberized cloth by coating or infiltrating with a thin solution of rubber. It is also used to dissolve the natural grease out of wool, and fatty oils out of seeds and oilpress residues, or oilcake; and in the re covery of oils from all kinds of waste material.
In its purest refined state the disulphide is employed to extract the most delicate essential oils from aromatic seeds and spices, and per fumes from flowers. In quite another direction it is efficient in preserving furs and woolens from moths, as an insecticide upon infested plants and in the burrows of such animal pests as moles, gophers, woodchucks, etc., to destroy them. As a chemist's aid in quantita tive analysis it is indispensable. It has a wide chemical interest as the most energetic of sul phurizing agents, aiding in the production of many sulphides not obtainable otherwise. Be cause of its high degree of volatility it is used in the production of low temperatures by its own evaporation. Under the air-pump a cold of —76° F. has been attained by its use.
Poisoning by carbon disulphide is becoming very prevalent since the use of rubber goods has become so extensive. The symptoms of acute poisoning are due to a poisoning of the blood and a central paralysing action on the nervous system. The blood action is that of a breaking up of the red blood cells, bazmolysis. This results in cyanosis, pains, headache, ver tigo, nausea, vomiting, weakness, unconscious ness, coma and death. Such acute cases are rare, the poisoning developing as a rule much less rapidly. In workers in rubber factories, in which there is much vapor of CS,, there develop disturbances of temper, loss of mem ory, pressure feelings on the head, heat, and the feeling as if the blood would burst through the skull, with headache. There may also be symptoms of irritation of the bronchi, cough ing and roughness of the voice, etc. Treat ment is fresh air and symptomatic.