DEATH IN THE GASOLINE
Most persons understand the danger of getting gasoline and fire in
close proximity, but there is another peril in gasoline which is not so
well comprehended—indeed has only come to the attention of scientists
in recent months. It is death, called petromortis, or gasoline death,
which lurks in the fumes of the burned gases from the exhaust pipe.
That which comes from the exhaust is no longer inflammable. It has
served its purpose in the combustion chamber by burning with rapid
expansion, furnishing power. It has undergone chemical changes, has
been split up, the hydro-carbon uniting for the most part with the
oxygen of the air in the mixture and forming carbon monoxide and carbon
dioxide. The latter is carbonic acid gas, in which no living thing can
live. The carbon monoxide is no less deadly, and besides there is the
nitrogen from the air, which will suffocate as well, unless it mingles
with the air freely.
These three gases exuding from the exhaust pipe into a confined space,
such as a small garage, would quickly vitiate the atmosphere to a point
where, close to the floor, asphyxiation would result, and sooner or
later would fill the garage up to the point of the air intake. Then,
as oxygen-filled air could not enter the intake to form mixture, the
engine would slow down and stop.
There is little danger, since the deadly gases are heavier than air,
when one is working about the garage in a standing posture, where the
breathing apparatus would be above the strata of gases and taking in
the normal air. But where one is working at the tires, or any part of
the car below the level of the gases, or under the car, he might be
overcome and die of suffocation in a few minutes.
It was not until such accidents really had occurred that the attention
of the public was directed to this danger. Just recently a notable
case of death from gasoline fumes was that of a popular actor. He was
working in his garage, and because of the cold had the doors tightly
closed. Getting under the car to adjust and oil the mechanism while the
engine was running to warm it up, he was overcome by the gases which
could not escape from the garage, and died before being discovered.
The chemical composition of the exhaust gases, according to an expert,
is as follows:
PER CENT.
Carbonic acid gas 8.70
Oxygen 2.75
Carbon monoxide .30
Hydrocarbons 6.55
Nitrogen 81.70
------
100.00
There is much disagreement as to the quantity of carbon monoxide
necessary to be fatal. A well-known automobile trade journal recently
said that 25 per cent. would produce death in half an hour and 15
per cent. would produce a violent headache in several hours. Other
authorities claim that as little as .5 per cent. would be fatal. It
is more probable that the large amount of suffocating gases, nitrogen
and carbonic acid gas, produces unconsciousness, and then the carbon
monoxide, attacking the blood particles, affects them so that they are
unable to take in oxygen; hence death is certain.
There are several ways in which the danger may be obviated. The first
and most natural one is to open the garage doors when the engine is
being run, or have an opening on the level with the floor through which
the heavy fumes may escape—roll out of the garage.
Another way is to provide a pipe, with flexible hose to attach it to
the exhaust pipe and leading to the outer air, so that the exhaust
would virtually be out-of-doors. This would not be expensive nor
difficult for any ingenious man to arrange. The pipe should be larger
than the exhaust nozzle and flexible metal hose of convenient length
should be attached by the use of a reducer, the other end to be forced
over the end of the exhaust, to which a short length of pipe might be
added if necessary. Three or four inches would be long enough for the
hose to attach easily. If necessary a clamp with wing nut on the bolt
could be used to hold it in place.
Gasoline fumes which are not burned also have a peculiar effect when
one inhales them profusely. Years ago when on a visit to Oil City,
Pa., the writer was invited to inspect the old Imperial Refinery, one
of the plants which helped found the Rockefeller millions. One phase
of refining kerosene is to wash out the volatile elements which make
it dangerous. This is done in an agitator, where streams of water
literally wash the kerosene, keeping it eddying and boiling as though
a fire were under it. The top is open and around it runs a gallery from
which the process is watched. It was a favorite trick of the employes
to conduct a stranger to this gallery and steer him to the lee side
where he gets the full effect of the fumes which pass off. Most men
not used to it began to feel light-headed in a few minutes and to act
as though they had been imbibing strong waters. It is an exact simile
of the alcoholic condition, though without the after effects the next
day. To a limited degree one may acquire the same effects from gasoline
in the garage if there are large open gasoline receptacles to send off
fumes sufficient to affect one. Of course, if there were enough to do
this, a spark from any source would start a fire.