506 ANNUAL EECORD OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 



doubled up any number of times and hammered with a mal- 

 let, without injury; the interior web of cork, which is the 

 basis of the fabric, neither cracks nor tears in any way, but 

 preserves its unity. With regard to its water-proof quali- 

 ties, the articles on exhibition offered conclusive evidences. 

 Boots, shoes, and other articles formed out of cuir-Uege were 

 shown swimming about upon water, without the water pen- 

 etratins: or in the least deteriorating: them. To show the 

 Strength of the material, there is exhibited a weight of about 

 half a ton suspended in the air by a strap, two inches wide 

 and about an eighth of an inch thick, made of cuir-W^ge. 

 The external appearance of the material varies according to 

 the nature of the textile material used in combination with the 

 cork; resembling leather, mackintosh, water-proof cloth, but 

 endowed with far superior qualities. The product has, ac- 

 cordingly, already attracted the attention of government of- 

 ficials. 



Among the uses for which the new material is claimed to 

 be excellently adapted, combining a notable economy both 

 in w^eight and cost, may be specified knapsacks, cartridge- 

 boxes, cap-cases, pouches, straps, belts, and other articles of 

 accoutrement, both naval and military; besides tents, aw^n- 

 ings, etc., for ambulances and other purposes, in hot climates. 

 Broadly speaking, it is afiirmed that cuir-libge is a perfect 

 substitute for leather in every case where leather is now 

 used, and that it may be advantageously used in many cases 

 where leather is not adapted. Iron, VI., 426. 



UTILIZATION OF LEATHER-WASTE. 



Various methods have been proposed for the preparation 

 of an artificial leather from leather parings and trimmings ; 

 but the products have had the disadvantage of being with- 

 out elasticity and of coming to pieces in water. Sorensen, of 

 Copenhagen, has lately patented an improved process for this 

 w^ork, in which the parings are first freed from impurities, 

 and then worked by a special machine into a homogeneous 

 mass. India rubber of any quality is then squeezed, washed, 

 and cut in pieces, and dissolved in oil of turpentine, ben- 

 zine, sulphide of carbon, or other suitable liquid. The leath- 

 er is next treated with ammonia w^ater, forming a gelat- 

 inous mass, and well stirred, after w^hich the two masses are 



