Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 91, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 July 1898 — Odd Varieties of Matches. [ARTICLE]

Odd Varieties of Matches.

Among the odd varieties of matches now in vogue are the “vestas," of which the siplint is a waxed cord; "fusees” for lighting in a wind, with a short, thick stick tipped with a large mass of chlorate of potash composition, and “natural gas” matches, with a very long splint for lighting natural gas fires. In former days the manufacture of phosphorus matches was attended with great danger to the workmen from the fumes, which caused a decay of the bones of the jaw. Many persons were poisoned from carelessness in handling them, nnd numerous conflagrations occurred on account of the ease with which they were ignited. The “parlor match" had its origin with the manufacture. in 1848, of Schrotter’s amorphous phosphorous. This product has neither odor nor taste, is not poisonous and does not take fire at ordinary temperatures.