Mr. Mathot, the author of this interesting work,is a well-known Belgian engineer, who has devotedhimself to testing and reporting upon gas and oilengines, gas producers and gas plants generally formany years past. I have had the pleasure of knowingMr. Mathot for many years, and have inspected gas-engineswith him. I have been much struck with the abilityand care which he has devoted to this subject.I know of no engineer more competent to deal withthe many minute points which occur in the installationand running of gas and oil engines. I have read thisbook with much interest and pleasure, and I considerthat it deals effectively and fully with all the principaldetail points in the installation, operation, and testingof these engines. I know of no work which has goneso fully into the details of gas-engine installation andup-keep. The work clearly points out all the matterswhich have to be attended to in getting the best workvifrom any gas-engine under the varying circumstancesof different installations and conditions. In my view,the book is a most useful one, which deserves, and nodoubt will obtain, a wide public recognition.
March, 1905.
vii
The constantly increasing use of gas-engines in the last decade has ledto the invention of a great number of types, the operation and care ofwhich necessitate a special practical knowledge that is not exacted byother motors, such as steam-engines.
Explosion-engines, driven by illuminating-gas, producer-gas, oil,benzin, alcohol and the like, exact much more care in their operationand adjustment than steam-engines. Indeed, steam-engines are regularlysubjected to comparatively low pressures. The temperature in thecylinders, moreover, is moderate.
On the other hand, the explosion-motor is irregularly subjected to highand low pressures. The temperature of the gases at the moment o