The Optical Magic Lantern Journal (April 1897)

64 The Optical Magic Lantern Journal and Photographic Enlarger. pressures only? An accident with the gas took placea | such g>nerators as are used are constructed in a rational few months ago in Lyons; a certain café in this town was lighted by acetylene gas manufactured on the premises in a gencrator, and an explosion occurred which completely wrecked the premises and killed two persons ; but as the apparatus was completely destroyed there is no means of ascertaining how it had taken place. Also at Olney, in Buckirghamshire, a young man who had been experimenting with a home-made generator of his own construction was killed on the evening of December 2nd. He came home on that evening, but the rest of his family were away from home at the time. It is supposed that he procoeded at once to the cellar where the generator was kept, and either struck a match and caused an explosion of some of the acetylene gas nixed with air, or that he was simply suffocated by the gas itself. As the generator appears to have been made in a rough-andready manner it is highly probable that the accident was brought about by some inherent defect in its construction, so that neither of these two accidents at Lyons or Olney should ba looked upon as of much consequence so far as the question of the relative safety or danger of the gas is concerned. On the other hand, a great many generators of different types and manufactured by different firms have been sold, and are being used by people in all parts of the country. And, as in many cascs the management of these machines appears to be left in the hands of gardeners and domestic servants generally, it is evident that the risk of accidents from acetylene by this method cannot after all be very great, and the accidents which I have referred to having been widely reported by the press, on account of the novelty of the process, have caused much comment and have undoubtedly led to the risk being greatly overrated by the general public. It is evident, however, that the method of compressing acetylene into steel bottles and thus vending it in a liquid form is attended by very grave danger, and unless some very convincing evidence be forthcoming to remove this impression, it will be only wise to entirely condemn the use cf acetylene in this form, With regard to an objection which has occasionally been urged against the use of acetylene, namely, its poisonous qualities, it has been shown to be as a matter of fact less poisonous than coal gas itself. Acetylene under certain conditions attacks copper with the formation of an explosive compound known as acetylide of copper. But, to quote Professor Lewes again, unless the acetylene contains considerable quantities of ammonia and moisture its action upon copper is practically nil, whilst with brass no appreciable action takes place. Hiven had the contention been correct, that acetylide of copper was liable to be formed when the gas was in contact with copper fittings, the danger would have been a very small one, a3 Professor Dixon has shown that if such a detonating compound be exploded in acetylene gas under moderate pressures, the explosion is only local and does not spread through the bulk of the gas. As I have already shown, the calcium carbide should be stored in such a way that it will not be acted upon by moisture ; the density and hardness of the mass, however, protects it to a great extent from atmospheric action, so that it does not deteriorate upon exposure as fast as might reasonably be expected. If these various points are carefully attended to, and manner and of good workmanship, it does not appear that there is any more risk to be feared from the use of acetylene ag an illuminating agent than from coal gas, pstroleum or the electric light. Prominent Men in the Lantern World, No. VI.—Mr. A. A. WOOD. R. A. A. WOOD must be considered @ thorough Londoner, inasmuch as he was born at Newgate Street, has during the greater part of his life lived at Cheapside, and takes a prominent part in various offices pertaining to the government of London. His early education was acquired at the City Photo by Elliott & Fry} 1396 (Baker St., 1’. of London School, and also at the Royal School of Mines, at which latter institution he studied under Professors Hoffman, Tyndal, and Huxley.