WELSBACH
Wels"bach, a.
Definition: Of or pertaining to Auer von Welsbach or the incandescent gas
burner invented by him. -- Welsbach burner, a burner in which the
combustion of a mixture of air and gas or vapor is employed to heat
to incandescence a mantle composed of thoria and ceria. The mantle is
made by soaking a "stocking" in a solution of nitrates of thorium and
cerium (approx. 99 : 1), drying, and, for use, igniting to burn the
thread and convert the nitrates into oxides, which remain as a
fragile ash. The light far exceeds that obtained from the same amount
of gas with the ordinary fishtail burner, but has a slight greenish
hue.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition