Sperm whale oil could be refined into extremely high-quality lubricants and illuminants.

抹香鲸油可以提炼成极高品质的润滑剂和发光剂。

Only the most prosperous business houses and homes had even this expensive illumination; most obtained their artificial light from the new illuminant known as kerosene.

只有最繁荣的商业房屋和家庭才有这种昂贵的照明； 大多数人从被称为煤油的新光源中获得人造光。

This report informed Bissell that the substance, could be refined cheaply and easily, and that, when refined, it made a splendid illuminant, besides yielding certain byproducts, such as paraffin and naphtha, which had a great commercial value.

这份报告告诉 Bissell，这种物质可以廉价且容易地提炼，而且提炼后，除了产生某些具有巨大商业价值的副产品（例如石蜡和石脑油）外，它还可以制成出色的发光体。