Circular as to Petroleum, Kerosene, &c. 
Office of New Jersew State Board of Health, 
Trenton, June 20th, 1882.. 
The Legislature of New Jersey, at its last session, passed a law 
in reference to the use <3f “ petroleum or coal oil for lighting and 
illuminating purposes ” (see ch. 168, laws of 1882.) In the 
Second Report of the Board of Health (1878), pages 16-22, and 
the Fourth Report, (1880,) pages 25-28, and the Fifth Report, 
pages 22 and 106, the need of legislation upon the subject is 
illustrated. These are but items in the records of destruction of 
human life which has occurred from a substance which is safe 
and valuable for lighting purposes, if properly prepared. A 
careful estimate has placed the number of deaths from kerosene 
in the United States as high as 6,000 in a single year. Fire and 
destruction of property often result. The law which has been 
passed is the extreme limit of leniency, and its value depends 
on its rigid enforcement. We have the assurance of the co- 
operation of many of the manufacturers, and only need the aid 
of Local Health Boards and retail dealers to make it fully opera- 
tive. 
It will be the dutv of all Local Boards of Health to see to it 
* •- 
that the people in their respective districts are protected in the 
manner and to the degree which the law provides. Besides the 
notice given by the State Board of Health and in the news- 
papers, it will be wise for Local Boards to send copies of this 
circular, which can be had on application by postal to us, to all 
venders of or dealers in illuminating oil in their respective dis- 
tricts. 
Section first of the act holds all dealers responsible that the 
oil which they are selling for household illuminating purposes, 
shall be proper for use as certified by the test and method of 
testing herewith adopted. Any person who can prove that he 
has bought oil of a less grade “ for inside light ” suit. 
Sections fourth and fifth give, in addition, the power to those 
named therein to enter and procure the oil for the special pur- 
pose of test. In such cases the vender “ may be enjoined and 
prohibited ” by special notice, but this does not prevent action 
without notice bjT those who have purchased for actual use for 
lighting purposes. Purchasers of oils to be sold in this State, 
should have the guaranty that the oils purchased are such as 
will answer the test herein given and should not, when purchas- 
ing from refiners outside the State, rely upon the brand, but ask 
the written guaranty of the dealer. 
If imperfect oils are brought into this State, not in accord 
with this law, we shall do all in our power, by exposure and 
prohibition of sale, to expose this wrong against human life. 2 
The following are the means of ascertaining whether or not 
petroleum or kerosene, to be sold for lighting or illuminating 
purposes, is of the character required by the act; and as such, is 
hereby declared by the Board of Health of this State, together 
with the Council of Analysts appointed by it, to be the means of 
determination. 
“ Saybolt’s Electric Tester ” shall be used both for determining 
the fire test and the flash test as indicated by section three of the 
act, (see chapter 168, laws of 1882.) And the instrument shall 
be operated in accordance with the instructions for using the 
“Saybolt Tester,” adopted by the New York Produce Exchange, 
which took effect August 1, 1879, but with this difference : that 
for oil of 110° fire test and upwards the oil shall (after the first 
flash) be flashed at 95, 100, 104, 108, 110, 113, 115. 
We give the following modified instructions for using the 
Saybolt Electric Tester for ascertaining the flash and fire test of 
petroleum and kerosene; and as adopted by the State Board of 
Health and the Council of Analysts of New Jersey: 
Directions for using the Electric Tester. 
Fill the metal bath with water, leaving room for displacement 
by the glass cup. 
Heat the water until the bath thermometer indicates 100° 
Fahrenheit, at which point remove the lamp. 
Fill the glass cup with oil to top line, indicated by the rim 
surrounding cup, which is J of an inch below top edge of the 
cup. 
See that there is no oil on the outside of the cup, nor upon the 
upper level edge, using paper to clean cup in preference to cot- 
ton or woolen material. 
See that the surface of the oil is free from air bubbles before 
first flash is produced. 
Lift the cup steadily with left hand and place in the bath. 
Suspend the thermometer with the bulb of same immersed 
just from view under surface of oil. 
Adjust the flashing bar, with the stamped side of the bar 
facing the operator, immerse the battery zincs in fluid, and when 
so immersed during the operation they should not come in con- 
tact with the carbon plates. 
Try for first flash every degree until the same is obtained. 
Attain flash by producing spark with one stroke of the key. 
The stroke on the key should be such as in telegraphy is used 
to produce what is called a dot, that is a short quick stroke. 3 
When the thermometer in the oil indicates 906, introduce 
lamp under the bath, and do not remove it until the operation 
is finished. 
The temperature of oil when placed in bath, should not be 
lower than 55° nor higher than 70° Fahrenheit. 
The flashing bar must be free from oil before adjusting for 
test. * 
Drafts of air must be excluded from the apartment wherein 
tests are made. 
Oil of 110° and upwards, shall (after first flash) be flashed at 
95, 100, 104, 108, 110, 113, 115. 
Oil of 120° and upwards, after first flash, 100, 105, 110, 115, 
118,120,122,125. 
’ Oil of 130 and upwards, every five degrees after first flash 
until burning point. 
The strength of the battery should be regulated by the zincs 
to produce just sufficient power to obtain continuous sparks. 
The vibrator at the left hand side of the induction coil is 
adjusted by means of a set screw, and should be set so that a 
continuous spark is the result when the battery is working.. 
Further details can be had of the manufacturers, 62 Beaver St.v 
New York City. 
“ An oil which flashes at 1130 without taking fire is to he regarded, 
in accordance with these instructions, as having stood a burning test 
at least as high as 115°; it may have stood a higher one. In gene- 
ral, the fire test of the oil is the degree whose number (in these 
directions) next follows the degree at which the last flash with- 
out ignition of the oil itself took place. 
“Thus, for oil of 120° and upwards, if the flash at 118° was 
not followed by ignition of the oil, while the flash at 120° set 
fire to the oil, the oil would be regarded as having attained a 
fire test of 120°. 
In case of any accident occurring from the actual explosion of 
any lamp or can containing oil, the Local Board of Health 
should at once procure specimen and evidence as to its source 
and have the same tested by some competent chemist. Even 
where accident has resulted from the improper use of oil as in 
lighting fires the rapid explosion has resulted from gas present 
in the can or the intense inflammability of the oil. 
All cities should employ a local inspector, who, if need be, 
can be duly authenticated by this board. Besides the oversight 
of local boards, we shall use proper methods for discovering the 
qualities of kerosene offered in the market and the sources from 
which it comes. It is to the interest of all that a safe kerosene 
be used. Heretofore the production of a poor article has made 4 
an unfair competition, which it is hoped to overcome since life 
and health are endangered and fair dealing is prejudiced 
thereby. The following is that portion of the law which relates 
to the quality of oils and the penalties: 
An Act to regulate the sale of petroleum and its products. 
1. And be it enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the 
State of New Jersey, That hereafter petroleum, or any of the pro- 
ducts thereof, may only be sold for use within this State under 
the following regulations and restrictions, viz.: (a) benzole, 
gasoline, naphtha and benzine must be sold under their true 
names respectively, and such names must be plainly *shown 
upon the barrel, can, or vessel in which the same are sold, or 
offered or exposed for sale, respectively, or upon a label securely 
fastened thereto; (b) petroleum or kerosene which will inflame 
at a less temperature than one hundred and fifteen degrees 
Fahrenheit, fire test, or flash at a less temperature than one 
dundred degrees Fahrenheit, flash test, must have plainly desig- 
nated upon the barrel, can or vessel in which the same is sold 
or offered or exposed for sale, or on a label securely fastened 
thereto, the number of degress Fahrenheit fire test below which 
the same will not inflame; (c) only such product of petroleum 
as will not flash at a less temperature, or flash test, than one 
hundred degrees Fahrenheit, or such as will not inflame at a 
less temperature than one hundred and fifteen degrees Fahren- 
heit, may be sold for lighting or illuminating purposes, except 
where the same is to be used in street lamps or open-air recep- 
tacles, or in gas machines, in which case (as to petroleum or 
kerosene) there shall be plainly marked on the barrel, can or 
vessel in which the same is sold or offered or exposed for sale, 
or on a label securely fastened thereto, the words “ not for inside 
lightprovided, that this act shall not apply to petroleum or 
its products sold in tanks used for transportation. 
2. And be it enacted, That if any person shall sell, or offer or 
expose for sale, for use within this state, except in the manner 
permitted by this act, any petroleum or product thereof, he shall 
be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction there- 
of, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding five hundred dol- 
lars, or imprisonment at hard labor or otherwise for a term not 
exceeding one year, or both ; and any sale in quantity less than 
one barrel shall be presumed to be for use within tliis.'state. 
The law goes into effect July 1, 1882. The notices thereof as 
required have been given in the Circular of April 20, and the 
county notice of June 20, 1882. 
By order of the Board. 
EZRA M. HUNT, Sec'y.