煤油之名法文为Pètrole,英文为Petroleum,按马罗(Malo)氏之解释,即石油之意,而属於石脑油之类,系一种混合物,作燃烧用,亦属一极复杂之矿油,於地中寻之,往往埋藏甚深。兹先论石油之性质及其功用,其次论石油之矿脉与世界之供给,然後再谈及其重要之发展。

The name "petroleum" signifies "oil from stone."According to the classification ofMale,petroleum is included in the category of bitumens.It is an extremely complextype of mineral oil, compounded of various substances and valuable for its combustiblequalities. It is found in the earth, sometimes lying at great distances below the surface.