View report page

37
that no sulphuretted hydrogen has been detected, but that
the sulphur exists in some other combination, the imperfectly
burned fumes of which yield an unpleasant smell,
and if collected with ammonia, or condensed in solid bodies,
yield sulphuric acid. Any one who chooses may convince
himself of this by washing out a bell glass which has been
suspended for some days over a gas flame, and applying
the requisite test.
That the hot watery vapour produced by burning gas,
and so impregnated, is injurious to health and destructive
of metallic and other household articles, there can be no
doubt. The manufacturer must therefore be urged to
tax his ingenuity to get rid of sulphur; although, considering
the composition of coal, the wonder is that the
gas contains so little.
On the other hand, the consumer should put his lamps
outside his premises, whenever possible, and use thorough
ventilation indoors; for without this, whether he use gas
or anything else, it will be impossible to obtain an equal
quantity of light without offence.
The writer has collected and examined the products of
the combustion of the Colza oil used in moderator lamps,
of Price's patent candles, and of the common tallow candle.
They contained no sulphur, and so far, are superior
to gas ; but the quantity of half-oxydized offensive liquor
which they yield is surprising when it is collected and
made visible; and supposing any one foolish enough to
try to get the same quantity of light as he now gets from
gas, in the same space, and with the same ventilation, by
using an equivalent quantity of tallow dips, he would
scarcely be able to breathe the effluvia without sick
headache.
During the same quarter, the gas supplied to the room
in Ebury Mews, burned in a bats wing burner, gave a light
equal to that of 10.41 sperm candles, consuming 120
grains per hour, and presented no traces of sulphuretted
hydrogen.