Meantime the lamp in burning gen erates a certain amount of heat. This extends from the burner to the adja cent parts of the lamp, and in many cases makes the receptacle containing the oil quite hot. The temperature of the oil is thus raised, and at a certain point it gives off a volatile inflamma ble gas similar to gasoline, benzine, or naphtha, which, if the lamp should leak, may come in contact with the open flame and cause an explosion.
Or, under certain circumstances, it may be exploded by a sharp jar.
If these facts and principles are un derstood and proper cautions are ob served, there need be no danger in the use of kerosene. The fact that kerosene is used in practically every household and that explosions are very rare proves this, but it does not prove that proper precautions must not be observed. Modern lamps are so con structed as to reduce to a minimum the dangers due to ignorance and carelessness, but the fact that explo sions do take place occasionally shows that care and intelligence are still necessary.
Cautions to Observe.—Buy the best lamps and the best oil. Trim the wicks and fill the lamps daily. Ad just the wick neither too high nor too low.
After turning up the wick to the right height, set the screw by a slight turn backward, which will prevent the wick from crawling up as it expands with the increase of beat. Try this, and the sense of touch will tell you what is necessary. Do not leave lamps or carry them when turned too high or too low. Adjust the flame midway and set back the screw.
Night Lamps.—Do not use ordinary lamps as night lamps by turning them low. Instead obtain a small night lamp that will admit of burning a tiny flame turned on full. Or turn up the ordinary lamp until the flame is clear and bright and then shade it from the eyes. The flame of an ordi nary lamp turned low throws off a large amount of unconsumed carbon and volatile gases, which impregnate the atmosphere and are taken into the lungs with many evil consequences, that are usually attributed to other sources.
Student Lamps. — These are pro vided with an oil tank at some little distance from the burner and at a lower level. Great care must be ob served to keep a student lamp exactly level. If the oil tank is raised above
the level of the burner, the latter will be overflowed with dangerous results. When filling the lamp, care must be taken not to leave air bubbles in the oil, otherwise the pipe conveying the oil to the burner will be clogged and the light will be made dim.
Lamps on Fire.—When a lamp over flows or for any reason gets on fire, seize it and throw it out of the win dow. A moment's delay may result in an explosion that will scatter burning kerosene all about and lead to a con flagration. Or seize as quickly as pos sible a heavy woolen rug, table cover, or couch cover, and wrap it tightly around the lamp. This prevents the oxygen of the air from reaching the flame, and it is quickly smothered. If a person's clothing takes fire from kerosene flames, do not throw water upon him or allow him to run about. Wrap him quickly in a large rug or other woolen cloth, which will extin guish the flames. If, by the explosion of a lamp or otherwise, burning oil is scattered about a room, do not throw water upon it, as it will only spread it. Throw on milk or any dry, heavy substance, as flour, corn meal, sand, or earth.
Kerosene for Lighting Fires. Kerosene should not be used for light ing fires, but it is so convenient and efficient that persons will always be found who prefer to take their chances of an explosion. The only caution that must be observed is not to pour oil into the stove from a can, else it will become ignited and the flame fol lowing the stream will find its way into the can and explode the oil. Even if the fire is supposed to be out, there may be coals or sparks in the ashes sufficient to ignite the fine stream of kerosene. If oil is to be used it should be poured into an old cup, saucer, or other open vessel and dashed at once on the kindling wood. The worst possible result to follow if oil is thus ignited will be a puff of flame, that will do no harm if it does not catch light garments or other in flammable substances.
Some persons soak corncobs in kero sene and use these as fire lighters. When this is done the vessel in which they are kept should be provided with a tight cover and kept in a cool place.