238 ANNUAL OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY. 



posed of a cucurbit, placed over the furnace ; it is fitted with a man-hole for 

 clearing it out, and communicates by a pipe with a coil, from which the pro- 

 ducts of distillation are discharged into a receiver. After submitting the raw 

 oils to a primary distillation (to separate the semi-liquid tar which remains in 

 the cucurbit), they are heated successively with sulphuric acid, caustic soda, 

 and lime water, and are then re-distilled in the same manner as molasses or 

 rum. The oils separated from the thick tar yield (under a properly-regulated 

 distillation) first, the light essential oil ; and afterwards, oils of a denser 

 character. The distillation may be further proceeded with, but the heat must 

 be progressively increased, and the product resulting will be unctuous oil, fit 

 for greasing and lubricating. A nearly liquid tar will still remain in the 

 cucurbit, which may be converted into a black grease by mixing it with caustic 

 soda. After being well stirred, at a temperature of from 75 to 85 Palir., for 

 two or three hours, saponification takes place, and the matter, being run into 

 appropriate receivers, forms what the inventor terms mineral paraffinised 

 grease. The unctuous oil is placed in refrigerators with double bottoms, 

 wherein it is submitted to a low temperature, at which the paraffine will be 

 separated, the remainder being gathered in bags and submitted to pressure, 

 in order to extract whatever little oil it may contain. In the decomposition 

 of schistose substances, the heat for the production of the oily matters must 

 never exceed 400 to 600 Fahr., for if carried beyond, all the gas would be 

 converted into carbonated hydrogen and carbonic oxide, to the detriment of 

 the hydro-carbonated and hydro-carburetted liquids obtained. 



Improvements in the Preparation of Oils. A patent has been taken out in 

 England by H. Hart, for a lubricating oil which can be made by any person. 

 It consists of seven gallons of lard or other oil mixed with one gallon of 

 crude turpentine. They are stirred together until the turpentine is fully 

 incorporated with the oil. It is stated that this mixture also makes a good 

 and safe burning oil. 



EGG ALBUMEN IN CALICO-PRINTING. 



Some curious statistics have been recently published, indicating the extent 

 to which egg albumen is employed in calico-printing. This substance is used 

 as a medium for affixing upon the cloth certain insoluble pigments, such as 

 artificial ultramarine, not attachable in the ordinary process of dyeing, and is 

 a new and valuable auxiliary in calico-printing. A single calico-print 

 establishment at Mulhausen, Germany, uses per annum, 8,000 kilogrammes 

 of dry albumen, at a cost. of 10 francs per kilogramme, equal to 80,000 francs ; 

 320 eggs produce one kilogramme, which multiplied by 8,000 is equal to 

 2,500,000 eggs. One hen produces 200 eggs per annum; and, therefore, 

 12,800 hens are required to supply this one factory. 



ARE WE TO EXPECT ANY IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFAC- 

 TURE OF SOAP ? 



The following are the conclusions of a paper on the theory and manufacture 

 of soap, recently read before the London Society of Arts, by a gentleman of 



