DANGERS IN GASOLINE 
BY 
JOHN H. KELLOGG, M. D., BATTLE CREEK. 
Thorp & Godfrey, State Printers and Binders, Lansing. DANGERS IN GASOLINE. 
BY JOHN H. KELLOGG, M. D., MEMBER OF THE STATE BOARD OF HEALTH, 
BATTLE CREEK. 
[ Reprinted from the Annual Report of the Michigan State Board of Health, for the year 1887.] 
[Reprint No. 260.] 
Mr. Chairman, Members of the State Board of Health :- 
As your committee on the preparation of a circular calling attention to the 
dangers connected with the domestic use of gasoline, I would respectfully 
submit the following: 
The extensive introduction of gasoline stoves within the last few years has 
brought into very general domestic use an article, the presence of which in a 
dwelling house is a constant menace to life and property. Gasoline, since its 
discovery, has always been known to chemists to be a dangerous substance. It 
evaporates rapidly at ordinary temperatures, and its vapor, when mixed with 
ordinary air, in proper proportion, forms an explosive compound the same as 
does ordinary illuminating gas. It is stated that one pint of gasoline, when 
evaporated, will render explosive two hundred cubic feet of air. The vapor 
of gasoline is in some respects more dangerous than common illuminating gas, 
especially the variety of gasoline which is ordinarily used in connection with 
gasoline stoves. 
1. Because it is somewhat heavier than the air instead of lighter, as is the 
case with illuminating gas. On this account, it accumulates in greatest quan- 
tity near the floor, and thus its presence is not so quickly detected, and it 
more readily comes in contact with fire in grates or stoves, and it does not 
so readily find an outlet through open windows, the ordinary means of venti- 
lation. 
2. The gasoline recommended by the manufacturers of gasoline stoves, and 
ordinarily employed in their use, having been deprived to a great degree of 
its characteristic odor, is much less readily detected in the air of a room than 
the same quantity of illuminating gas. 
3. Illuminating gas is suffocative in its effects, as well as extremely unpleas- 
ant in odor, so that its presence becomes unbearable long before the propor- 
portion present in the air of a room becomes so great as to render it explosive. 
Several years ago this Board called attention to the dangers of using explosive 
kerosene oil; and protective legislation has been maintained which has doubt- 
less been the means of saving many lives. Before the enactment of the laws 
referred to, loss of life and serious injuries from kerosene explosions were 
exceedingly frequent, but at the present time, casualties from this cause in DANGERS IN GASOLINE. • 
25 
Michigan are almost unknown. This safety in the use of kerosene oil has 
been secured by the more perfect separation from it of the explosive products 
of coal oil. Gasoline is one of the most explosive substances obtainable from 
coal oil, and it is not to be wondered at that the extensive use of this dan- 
gerous article of late years has led to frequent distressing accidents, usually 
involving grave personal injury and often loss of life. The increasing fre- 
quency of these accidents has led this Board to undertake an inquiry into 
the matter, the results of which are, in part, embodied in this circular. 
A letter was addressed to each of the leading manufacturers of gasoline 
stoves, asking for descriptive circulars and directions for the use and care of 
a gasoline stove. A careful examination of these circulars failed to discover 
any proper warning respecting its safe keeping or handling. Indeed, the 
evident effort of manufacturers and dealers is to convince the public that the 
use of gasoline is perfectly safe, although it is well enough known to every 
one familiar with its properties that a mixture of the vapor of gasoline with 
common air in proper proportions is as violently explosive as gunpowder 
and many other explosive substances. It is true that gasoline maybe handled 
in such a manner that the risk of explosion and consequent injury may be 
made very small. The same is true, however, of gunpowder, nitro-glycerine, 
and dynamite. But these substances not infrequently explode with most 
destructive violence, even in the hands of those who are educated respecting 
their character, and trained in their use. This fact restricts the handling of 
the explosives mentioned to very few persons, and their employment to those 
uses for which no other substances can be well substituted. Certainly no one 
would think of placing gunpowder or nitro-glycerine in the hands of ignorant 
or unskilled persons, even though precise instructions respecting their use 
might accompany the destructive articles; yet this is precisely what is being 
done in the most extensive manner with gasoline, an explosive in all respects 
more dangerous than gunpowder. Gunpowder will not explode unless fire 
is brought in immediate contact with it. It certainly will not leave the can 
containing it, should the cover happen to be left off, and insidiously find its 
way to a fire, a lighted lamp, or other means by which an explosion may be 
produced. But this may occur with gasoline. Notwithstanding these well 
known facts, thousands of gasoline stoves and the gasoline employed in them 
are to-day in the hands of ignorant persons, many of whom are perhaps 
ignorant of the explosive nature of the vapor of gasoline, and who at least 
seldom appreciate the extent of the danger to which they and other persons 
are exposed in its use. 
A circular letter addressed to the officers and general agents of the leading 
insurance companies doing business in this country elicited a large number 
of replies, the writers of which, with barely two exceptions, pronounce the 
domestic use of gasoline as a fuel extremely dangerous, and greatly deplore 
the general introduction of gasoline stoves, not only on account of the 
increased risk to property, but of the great risk of serious personal injury or 
loss of life. Although not requested to withhold the names of the writers of 
these letters, we quote without credit, for brevity's sake, the following 
opinions and statements from the great number of letters received. 
A general insurance agent writes: 
(t I have known of at least twenty-five cases in which the use of gasoline 
stoves caused a loss of life and injury, and from my experience of them I 
would not have one in my house under any circumstances, as in my judgment 
they cannot be made safe.'' 26 
STATE BOARD OF HEALTH.-REPORT OF SECRETARY, 1887. 
A general agent doing business in Detroit states, nnder date of Nov. 15: 
"On the first of July I commenced keeping a private record of gasoline 
stove accidents, and so far have a list of eight." (Eight accidents in one city 
of the size of Detroit in four and one-half months is certainly not a good 
record.) 
An insurance agent doing business in one of the leading towns of the State, 
a city of about 20,000, inhabitants, and who has given special attention to 
this subject, states on the authority of the chief engineer of the city fire 
department that eight fires from gasoline stoves have occurred in that city 
within four years, aggregating a loss of several thousand dollars; and adds 
that in his opinion "the first duty of every municipality in the State of 
Michigan should be the adoption of a rigid law relative to, and governing the 
storage and use of gasoline, and the issuing by circular or other efficient 
means of information to the people, educating and admonishing them as to 
its nature and its use; better still, an ordinance excluding it altogether." 
He pronounces gasoline "more dangerous to have around than gunpowder." 
The secretary of a large insurance company writes: "Our impression from 
the accounts in the daily papers is that the losses of life and property (from 
the use of gasoline as fuel) have been very considerable." "As every one must 
be aware who reads the newspapers, the losses to life and property are much 
too frequent and disastrous. As insurers, we should be glad to see its use for 
fires entirely abandoned." 
Another general agent writes: " There have been a great number of acci- 
dents from the use of gasoline stoves," and states, "I would not permit one 
in my house under any circumstances." " The stoves of to-day are doubtless of 
better make than the first, but guarded with even the perfection of care the 
insidious vapor arising from gasoline is extremely dangerous, and seizes every 
opportunity to join itself to fire or light however distant." 
An insurance agent residing at Jackson, Mich., mentions two deaths as 
having occurred in that city from the result of gasoline, of which he says: 
" In the cases mentioned, the death of one, Mrs. G. Stevenson, was caused by 
setting the can too close to the flame of the stove, thereby causing it to ex- 
plode, throwing the gasoline all over her. The death of Mrs. A. Porter was 
occasioned by grease igniting on the stove, the heat from which caused the 
tank to explode, scattering the gasoline over her." He adds, "The chief of 
our fire department informs me that the department has been called out nine- 
teen times by reason of leak and explosion of gasoline stoves within two 
years." 
Another general agent states: " We have paid several losses for fire caused 
by the explosion of gasoline stoves. Where great care is exercised, they may 
be used safely; but familiarity renders people careless." 
A State agent of one of the largest Insurance Companies in the country 
writes: "If I should express my own opinion on the subject, it would be as 
follows: Gasoline is by its very nature a dangerous substance to have any- 
where; further, the gasoline stoves in general use, while very well construct- 
ed, and fairly good when new, will get defective while in use, and when de- 
fective are very dangerous, and a possible source of great damage to life and 
property. I consider their use in any family composed in part of young 
children to be almost criminal." 
Descriptions of a number of cases of loss of life occurring through the use 
of gasoline in connection with gasoline stoves were included in the replies re- 
ceived. In most of these cases, the explosion occurred as the result of turn- DANGERS IN GASOLINE. 
27 
ing on a little too much gasoline before lighting it, placing the can or other 
vessel holding gasoline too near the flame of the stove, or lighting a match in 
the vicinity of an open can. Nearly all of these accidents may be charged to 
carelessness; but is it not questionable whether an article which by so slight 
neglect or carelessness may be productive of so great mischief is not too 
dangerous an article for domestic use ? The majority of domestics are 
habitually careless, especially respecting matters in which they have not been 
trained to careful habits. When we add to this fact the ignorance respecting 
the dangerous character of the substance which they are handling and the 
soothing assurance of the manufacturer and dealer that the particular style 
of stove in use is "perfectly safe," is it not remarkable that the number of 
distressing and fatal accidents is not vastly greater than it is ? 
Attention should be called to the fact that the statistics of losses from 
various causes are misleading as regards the danger from the use of gasoline. 
While it is true that fewer fires result from gasoline than from defective 
chimneys, stoves, or kerosene lamps, it must be recollected that the number 
of each of these causes in active operation is vastly greater than the number 
of gasoline stoves. The loss from eleven explosions in 1886 was $154,000. 
We found in the circular of one of the leading manufacturers an inad- 
vertent confession of the dangerous character of these stoves in the statement 
that a particular device recently added to this special stove " makes this the 
safest and simplest stove on the market." 
In a letter received from the manufacturer of another popular stove, the 
acknowledgment is made that " the gas from gasoline when allowed to 
evaporate, mixed with air, is stuff that is explosive." To allay fears, how- 
ever, the same writer added, "you are all right if you do not go near it with 
a lamp or fire of any kind." If this were true, the thing which is forbidden 
is precisely what some child or thoughtless person is certain to do, and, as 
previously mentioned, even if no person takes a lamp or fire to the gasoline, 
the gasoline may vaporize and go some distance to a lamp or fire, when the 
most disastrous results are likely to follow. 
Is it not a very grave question whether the acknowledged convenience of 
gasoline as a fuel is not vastly more than counterbalanced by the positive 
dangers involved in its use? 
RULES FOR THE USE AND CARE OF GASOLINE. 
Every person employing or keeping gasoline should keep constantly in 
mind the following facts and cautions respecting its use: 
1. Gasoline is an extremely dangerous, explosive substance. 
2. It should be kept in a cool, well ventilated place, if possible out of 
doors, or in an out-building; never in a kitchen, closet, or cellar. 
3. A vessel containing gasoline, unless tightly closed, should never be 
brought within ten feet of a lamp, stove, grate, flame, or fire of any sort. 
The small flame of a match or even a spark: is sufficient to explode the gas 
when present in sufficient quantity. 
4. The vapor of gasoline may be carried by a draught or current of air, 
and thus be brought in contact with fire at considerable distance, even greater 
than that mentioned in the preceding paragraph; consequently gasoline 
should never be opened or poured from one vessel to another in a current of 
air, unless the current is from the room out of doors. 28 
STATE BOARD OF HEALTH.-REPORT OF SECRETARY, 1887. 
5. The danger in connection with the use of gasoline stoves is not so much 
in the stoves themselves as in having the gasoline about; yet by continued 
use, the valves of a stove may become worn so that leaks may occur, and thus 
a stove may become a source of great danger. 
6. If an overflow of gas occurs from being turned on too freely, from leak- 
age of valves, or from the blowing out of the generating burner, as some- 
times accidentally occurs, the surplus gasoline should be carefully wiped up, 
and the room should be well aired by the opening up of windows and doors 
before the burner is lighted. 
7. If an open vessel containing gasoline has been standing in a room over 
night, or an overflow has occurred during the night, or if there is is found in 
a room a strong smell of gasoline at any time, the room should be opened 
and well aired, and before a match is lighted or a lighted lamp or candle car- 
ried into the room. 
8. Gasoline should never be used for lighting a fire. An explosion, which 
may possibly be fatal in its effects, is almost certain to follow. Persons have 
been maimed for life in this way. 
9. The use of gasoline lamps is, if possible, attended with even greater 
dangers than the use of gasoline stoves. 
10. A wise regard for safety will lead to the disuse of gasoline in any form 
for domestic purposes. 
11. Gas or kerosene stoves may be safely substituted for gasoline stoves, 
but neither gas, gasoline, nor kerosene stoves are so safe or healthful as the 
ordinary wood or coal stove. The ordinary stove aids in the ventilation of 
the room, and carries away the poisonous gases formed by the combustion of 
the fuel, whereas the other forms of stoves discharge the products of com- 
bustion into the air of the room, compelling the occupants to breathe the 
poisonous gases. Neither gas, gasoline, nor kerosene stoves should ever be 
employed in other than very open or well ventilated rooms, unless provided 
with a special flue or ventilating duct for the purpose of carrying off the 
products of combustion. 
Respectfully submitted, 
J. H. KELLOGG.