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what is "manufactured" gas.

I think that we have all dealt with that after certain foods.

They are probably talking about city or coal gas, a very poisonous gas that would kill plants in the house where it was used. There were also portable and permanent gas plants that were used for lighting where water was dripped on calcium carbide to produce acetylene for lighting homes before electricity was widely available. There would be a network of pipes leading to gas fixtures in each room. Large fixtures with or without prisms were called gasoliers like chandeliers only without candles. Acetylene derived from this process was also used in early automobile and train headlights, but I don't know that it was produced in large enough amounts to be used for cooking so they probably mean coal gas.

The link takes you to an article explaining the process of making coal gas and its history. I remember a science book experiment that made charcoal that processed wood in much the same manner to drive off the volatile compounds. Wood was heated in a sealed can (I used one of those narrow cans in which slivered almonds used to be sold) with one small hole punched in the lid and, as the vapor came out of the hole, it was ignited with a match. The process continued until the flame went out which was a sign that the charcoal was produced. It gave me the opportunity to use an electric hotplate and play with fire.

 
The manufactured gas mentioned above is referenced in the last paragraph of E.M. Forster's Celestial Omnibus:

"The body of Mr. Septimus Bons has been found in a shockingly mutilated condition in the vicinity of the Bermondsey gas works."

This plays into the imagery of the story because the gas works were places of heat, fires and poisonous gases where men lasted but a few years before the rigor and pollution killed them, a stark contrast to the heaven of artistic beauty and erudition at the other end of the ride.
 
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