NOTES ON SOME SAMPLES OF KEROSENE.

BY PROF. H. B. CORNWALL.

I have the honor herewith to submit my report on various samples of kerosene. The samples were collected in the latter part of November by Mr. James H. McGuire, Inspector, of Trenton, N. J.

Twenty-two samples were tested, having been collected from the following places: Manasquan, Monmouth county, 4; Englishtown, Monmouth county, 1; Point Pleasant, Ocean county, 4; Trenton, Mercer county, 5; Bound Brook, Somerset county, 4; Lambertville, Hunterdon county, 3; Princeton, Mercer county, 1.

The tests were all made according to the regulations in the last report of the New Jersey State Board of Health; duplicate tests being made of all flashing below 100° Fahr. It will be seen from the figures below that oils are still sold in this State which do not come up to the required standard of safety.

Temperature of oil at flashing............... 96° 98° 99° 100° 102° 104° 10

Number of samples...

1 1 3

........... .............

5

2

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1

NOTES BY WM. K. NEWTON, M.D., MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE OF ANALYSTS.

During the past year seven samples of kerosene have been sent to me to be tested, all of which proved to be up to the State standard. In Paterson, the introduction of gasoline stoves for cooking purposes brought up the question, whether the law contemplated the regulation of the sale of gasoline and naphtha for heating purposes. After reading the law and after consulting legal authority, it was found that the law only regulated the sale of oils intended for illumination.

The agents for the stoves were, however, notified that the gasoline could only be sold in cans or vessels, marked "not for inside light." The papers published articles warning persons about the dangerous character of naphtha and gasoline, and some little good was done.

As was anticipated by me, the danger of using these very explosive articles was soon made very evident by the explosion of two reservoirs connected with the stoves and the destruction of much property. Fortunately, no lives were lost.

Some samples of "noodles" were collected in Newark, as it was thought they were covered with chromate of lead. The samples were sent to Prof. H. B. Cornwall, but at the time of writing the analysis has not been completed.

It seems to me essential, to a proper enforcement of the law, that rules for the government of analysts and inspectors should be adopted.

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REPORT OF THE MILK INSPECTOR.

WM. K. NEWTON, M.D., PATERSON, N. J.

I herewith hand you my fifth annual report.

The work of inspection done during the year just past has been much the same as that performed in the past four years, and it seems hardly necessary to burden this report with many details, as it would be but a repetition of former reports.

I have visited nearly all the dairy sections of the State, besides inspecting the milk supplied to many of our principal cities and health resorts.

Mr. Peter L. Vandegrift has acted as my assistant in the southern and western parts of the State, and has inspected the milk supplied to the cities and towns of Gloucester, Camden, Burlington, Salem and Atlantic counties, and Atlantic City, Cape May and other summer resorts. He has proved to be a careful and conscientious worker, and has done exceedingly efficient work.

Mr. Henry B. Everhart, of Stevens Institute, was appointed assistant for Hoboken and Jersey City, and by strict attention to duty has done much to insure the purity of the milk supplied to those cities.

Messrs. Edward R. Martin and William Moller, the former Chemist and the latter Inspector for the New York Dairy Commissioner, were also appointed assistants and given power to inspect milk in this State. This was done so as to enable them to have supervision over milk produced in New York but passing through this State destined for New York city. They have aided me very much.

The New York State Dairy Commissioner, Mr. Josiah K. Brown, appointed me chemist to his department-a complimentary office, but one that gave me authority to inspect milk in that State.

The Legislature of 1884 enacted an amendment to the milk law which defendants a right to a jury trial; also, entitling them to

gave