GARVE, CIIRISTIAN (1742-98). A German philosopher. He was born at Breslau, studied at the universities of Frankfort-on-the Oder and Halle, in 1769 succeeded Gellert as professor of philosophy at Leipzig, but in 1772 was obliged by ill health to retire. His writings did much toward the popularization of philos ophy in Germany. His work was highly valued by Kant, and by Frederick II., who bestowed upon him a pension of 200 thalers and re quested him to prepare a translation (1783; 6th ed. 1819) If Cicero's De Ofliciis. Garve eu logized the King in the Fragmente zur Sehilde rung des Geistes, Charakters and der Regierung Friedrichs II. (1798). Among his further pub lications are a collection of essays. Uebcr ver schiedene Gegenstlinde aus der Moral, der I.Wera tur und dem gesellschaftliehen Leben (1792 1802 ), and translations (1798-1801, 1799-1802) of the '110ucd and lioXtrucd of Aristotle.
GAS (popularly supposed to have been invent ed by the Belgian chemist Helmont, influenced by Dutch gest, spirit, but according to his own statement derived by him from Gk. xdor, chaos,
chaos, the Dutch g being pronounced much like the Gk. x, ch), ILLUMINATING. A term applied to any mixture of combustible gases that may be used as an illuminant. The raw materials which have been employed for making such gas include a variety of substances rich in carbon and hydro gen, such as bituminous coal, wood, resin, oils and fats, and petroleum. When subjected to destructive distillation these substances yield water, tar, gas, and a residue of coke or char coal. The principal sources of illuminating gas are, however, bituminous coal and petroleum. Cannel coal is used to a certain extent as an enricher or means of increasing the illuminating value, but has been largely superseded for this purpose by petroleum. As commercially sup plied, illuminating gas is of two kinds, coal-gas and carbureted water-gas.