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Heating, Lighting, and Refrigeration: Kerosene

Kerosene for Lighting Fires. - Kerosene should not be used for lighting 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 following 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 inflammable substances. Some persons soak corncobs in kerosene 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.

Foot Warmer. - When driving or sleighriding in winter, fill a sirup can having a screw top with hot water.

This will keep warm for a long time.

It may be used in place of a hotwater bottle.

Or make a square box of pine, 6 or 8 inches deep and large enough to just fit about the base of an ordinary lantern. Leave this open at the top, and have the bottom broad enough so that the box will not readily tip over.

Bore a few holes near the bottom of the box to admit the air, and when driving in winter set a lantern in the box and let it stand on the carriage or sleigh bottom under the robes at the driver's feet. If these suggestions are observed the lantern will burn with a clear, steady flame, without smoking, will not tip over or soil robes or garments, and will keep the driver comfortable in freezing weather.

To Improve Kerosene Oil.-Put a teaspoonful of common salt in an ordinary hand lamp, and a tablespoonful in a large lamp with a B burner. This gives a more brilliant light, and tends to prevent smoking, and hence to keep the wicks and chimneys clean.

Chinese Lanterns. - When using these lanterns for holiday occasions, put a few handfuls of sand in the bottom of the paper lantern about the candle. This keeps them from swaying, and also tends to prevent them from taking fire. - Vest-pocket Light.-Put a piece of phosphorus in a 1- or 2-ounce glass vial and fill with olive oil. Cork tightly. When the oil is heated by the warmth of the body or otherwise, the phosphorus will emit light enough to read the time on the dial of a watch in the darkest night. Should the vial become broken do not touch the phosphorus with the fingers, as it will eat the flesh and produce an ulcer.

Take it up between two sticks or otherwise and drop it into water. To give good results it must be kept from the air.

Bonfires. To make brilliant bonfires and signal fires, mix 8 pounds of saltpeter, 4 pounds of flower of sulphur, 1 pound of antimony, and pound of camphor. Powder these ingredients, mix and tamp them into an iron socket. When ignited, they will burn for some time with great brilliancy.

ICE AND REFRIGERATION Nature of Ice. - Ice is one of a number of substances that occupy a greater volume in the solid than in the liquid state. At the moment of freezing it expands with great force about one-eleventh in bulk, as is testified by the bursting of frozen water pipes.

An interesting experiment consists in passing a wire through a solid block of ice without cutting it in two.

The ice should be supported at both ends, leaving the middle free, and the wire over it with weights attached to either end. The pressure on the wire raises the temperature of the ice to the melting point and allows the wire to sink; but the wire absorbs some of the heat, and causes the water to freeze upon its upper surface; hence the seam is closed, and after the passage of the wire the block of ice remains intact. Its course, however, can be traced by the air bubbles which it leaves behind.

Under ordinary conditions water freezes at 32° F., and does not melt until the temperature is raised above that point; but under pressure, as above noted, ice will be converted into water at a lower temperature, having been melted under high pressure at 18° C. If water is perfectly still it may be lowered to 22° F. before freezing, but the slightest jar will cause it to freeze when the temperature rises to 32° F. Uses of Ice. - In addition to its natural service in transforming lakes and rivers during winter in northern climates into solid roadways, ice is in great demand as an antiseptic or preserving agent. Formerly it was supposed that meats and carcasses of animals intended for food must be frozen to be preserved. The discovery of the practicability of preserving meats and vegetables by means of ice, but without freezing them, is comparatively recent. Now, in addition to the household refrigerator, refrigerating cars convey beef, fruit, and vegetables across continents, and refrigerating steamships take tropical fruits and other products from southern to northern climes and return with dairy products, northern fruits, and other perishable articles that could not otherwise be obtained in tropical countries. In many cities cold-storage houses also preserve, with a very slight percentage of loss, dairy products, meats, fruits, and vegetables for periods varying from months to years. Cold-storage vaults protect furs and valuable garments from the ravages of moths and other insects.

Ice is also now regarded as absolutely necessary in the summer months to preserve the bodies of the dead until the time of burial.