MECHANICS AND USEFUL ARTS. 97 



when it was again weighed, and showed a considerable loss of weight, 

 which increased with the increase in the temperature of the steam. 

 For elm and oak the decrease was one half, fur ash and walnut two 

 fifths, and for pine one third. The woods also underwent a change 

 of color as the heat was rising from 392 to 482 degrees ; the walnut 

 became very dark, exhibiting a kind of tar formed in the w r ood by the 

 process, which was found to have a preserving effect on the wood. 

 It was ascertained that wood thus treated became stronger, having an 

 increase in the power of resisting fracture. The maximum heat for 

 producing the greatest power of resisting fracture was, for elm from 

 302 to 347 degrees; for oak, walnut, and pine, from 257 to 302. The 

 oak was increased in strength five ninths, walnut one half, pine two 

 fifths, and elm over one fifth. By this process of steaming, the fibres 

 of the wood are drawn closer together, and maple and pine treated 

 with steam at a temperature of 482 degrees were rendered far more 

 valuable for musical instruments than by any other process heretofore 

 known. These, however, are but preliminary experiments, which it 

 is expected will lead to very important results. 



DISSOLVING BONES BY STEAM. 



A STATEMENT has lately been made to the Highland Agricultural 

 Society of Scotland in relation to pulverizing bones by steam, and it 

 was asserted that bones of any size could be reduced to a soft mass in 

 the following manner. All the machinery necessary is a small boiler 

 with a steaming-vessel connected with it capable of bearing a pressure 

 of twenty-five or thirty pounds to the square inch. The vessel being 

 filled with bones and subjected to the action of steam above the level 

 of the boiler (as they will not dissolve if covered w 7 ith water), at 

 twenty-five pounds' pressure, for a few hours, they will become quite 

 dissolved, thus saving all the expense of grinding and the sulphuric 

 acid commonly used, which amounts to double the price of the rough 

 bones. By this new process the bones are so much softened that they 

 can be crushed by the hand. Dr. Anderson, the chemist, thinks the 

 steaming process cheaper than the old one, and Prof. Traill considers 

 it preferable, because all the animal matter, a portion of which is 

 commonly lost, and the gelatine are saved. Albany Cultivator. 



CINCINNATI LARD AND OIL MANUFACTURE. 



WE learn from the Cincinnati papers that there are upwards of 

 thirty large establishments in that city employed in the manufacture 

 of lard-oil, which is accomplished by divesting the lard of one of its 

 constituent parts, stearine. The largest of these, whose operations 

 are probably more extensive than any other in the United States, has 

 manufactured heretofore into lard, oil, and stearine 140,000lbs. month- 

 ly, all the year round, and the great increase of hogs for the pres- 

 ent season will probably enlarge that business this year 50 per cent. 

 It is calculated that 1 l,000,000lbs. of lard will be run into lard-oil this 

 year, two-sevenths of which aggregate will make stearine, the residue 



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