Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 183, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 August 1914 — MIXTURE MAKES FOR TROUBLE [ARTICLE]

MIXTURE MAKES FOR TROUBLE

Chlorate ofPotaah Tablets Must Not Be Carried In Pocket With “Safety" Matches. Recently a serious fire was started in a coat pocket Of a man who carelessly placed two chlorate of potash tablets in the pocket with a box of safety matches. Brushing against the side of the door, he pressed the tablets against the coating on the outside of the match box, with the result that an intense fire was started in his coat pocket, and he was severely burned. Red phosphorus is used in the manufacture of safety matches and is placed on the box, Instead of on the head of the match. The head of a safety match contains chlorate of potash, which, containing much oxygen, flares up strongly when rubbed against the phosphorus on the Bide of the box. Thus the careless practise of carrying chlorate of poteßh tablets, commonly supposed to be entirely harmless, in the same pocket with a “safety” bos, may result in serious injury.—Popular Mechanics.