CHAPTER XXXIV

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.