496 ANNUAL RECORD OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 



STIFFENING GAUZE. 



Good wheat starch and white wax are employed, either cold 

 or warm, according to the color. The gauze, on removal from 

 the starch, is perfectly untwisted, pressed out, and clapped 

 with the hands, so that the starch may be uniformly distrib- 

 uted. Any meshes that may still appear filled with starch 

 may be freed from it when the gauze is stretched on the dry- 

 ing-pad by brushing it with the hand, or, better, with a soft 

 brush. Small starched pieces can also be placed on the fin- 

 ishing-drum, since the starch remaining in any meshes will 

 stick to the drum when the gauze is removed. In this case, 

 however, it will unavoidably have a spotted lustre on the 

 side next the drum. 26 C, 1874, i., 5. 



PASTE FOR LABELS ON BOTTLES, ETC. 



An excellent paste for fixing labels on glass, wood, or pa- 

 per may be prepared by dissolving eleven parts, by weight, 

 of common glue, soaked a day before in cold water, seven 

 parts of gum arabic, and some rock candy, in fifty-six parts 

 of water, at a gentle heat, with continued stirring until the 

 mass is uniform. Labels brushed with this and dried will 

 adhere firmly if simply moistened with saliva when used. 

 15 (7, 1874, iv., 64. 



STARCH FOR RENDERING CLOTHING INCOMBUSTIBLE. 



The following process for the preparation of starch that 

 will render fabrics incombustible is given by Hagar : Cover 

 10 parts of white, pulverized bone-ash with 50 parts of hot 

 water, and add gradually 6 parts of sulphuric acid. Stir 

 the mixture thoroughly, and allow it to stand for two days, 

 with occasional stirring, in a warm place. Then add 100 

 parts of distilled water, filter, and add to the filtrate 5 parts 

 of sulphate of magnesia dissolved in 15 parts of distilled wa- 

 ter, and stir in ammonia, w T hile cold, until a perceptible odor 

 is imparted. Press the precipitate formed in a linen cloth, 

 dry it in a moderately warm place, and reduce it to a fine 

 powder. Mix 2 parts of this powder (phosphate of ammonia- 

 magnesia) with 1 part of tungstate of soda, and 6 parts of 

 wheat starch, and sufficient indigo blue to impart a bluish 

 tint. Care must be taken that the materials are perfectly 



