A workman was killed by suction gas while in the water-closet. It appeared that some time previously when the plant was installed the ventilating pipe between the purifier and motor, instead of being led through the roof, had been led out sideways on a level with the floor immediately above the closet.
In another case the suction gas attendant had taken out the three-way cock between the generator and motor for repairs and had not reinserted it properly, so that when effort was made to start the motor this failed, as gas only and no air was drawn in. The motor was thought to be at fault, and the fan was worked so vigorously that the gas forced its way out through the packing of the flange connections and produced symptoms of poisoning in the persons employed.
More dangerous than suction gas plants, in which normally no escape takes place, are installations depending on gas under pressure. Such an installation was used for heating gas irons in a Berlin laundry. The arrangements were considered excellent. The gas jets were in stoves from which the fumes were exhausted. The gas was made from charcoal and contained 13 per cent. of hydrogen. No trace of carbonic oxide was found in the ironing room on examination of the air. After having been in use for months the mechanical ventilation got out of order, with the result that twelve women suffered severely from symptoms of carbonic oxide poisoning, from which they were brought round by oxygen inhalation. The laundry reverted to the use of illuminating gas. The conclusion to be drawn is that installations for gas heating are to be used with caution.[2]
Industrial poisoning from blast furnace gas is frequent. Two fatal cases were reported[3] in men employed in the gas washing apparatus. They met their death at the manhole leading to the waste-water outlet. In another case a workman entered the gas main three hours after the gas had been cut off to clear it of the dust which had collected. He succumbed, showing that such accumulations can retain gas for a long time. Steps had been taken three hours previously to ventilate the portion of gas main in question.
A fatal case occurred in the cleaning out of a blast furnace flue which had been ventilated for 1½ hours by opening all manholes, headplates, &c. The foreman found the deceased with his face lying in the flue dust; both he and a helper were temporarily rendered unconscious.
Cases of poisoning by generator gas are described.[4] A workman who had entered a gasometer containing the gas died in ten minutes, and another remained unconscious for ten days and for another ten days suffered from mental disturbance, showing itself in hebetude and weakness of memory.
Acetylene is poisonous to only a slight extent. Impurities in it, such as carbon bisulphide, carbonic oxide (present to the extent of 1-2 per cent.), and especially phosphoretted hydrogen gas, must be borne in mind.
American calcium carbide[5] yields acetylene containing 0·04 per cent. of phosphoretted hydrogen; Lunge and Cederkreutz have found as much as 0·06 per cent. in acetylene.
AMMONIA AND AMMONIUM COMPOUNDS
Preparation.—Ammonia and ammonium salts are now exclusively obtained as a bye-product in the dry distillation of coal, from the ammonia water in gas works, and as a bye-product from coke ovens.