568 ANNUAL KECORD OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 



soda, and one fifth the chlorine required by Sinclair's process. 

 The conversion of the wood is so complete that subsequent 

 beating is unnecessary, and not only is mechanical power 

 economized, but a reduction in tenacity of the stuff avoided, 

 and the addition of rasr stuff rendered unnecessarv. It is also 

 claimed that twenty-eight per cent, more of the soda can be 

 recovered. In addition to simplicity, avoidance of high press- 

 ure, and cheapness, it is stated that the process is not con- 

 fined to the manufacture of paper, but that it is adapted for 

 preparing hemp, flax, etc., without the preliminary operations 

 of rotting, breaking, etc. 16 C, 1872, VI., 8 and 9, 137. 



CERESINE. 



Among other substances recently introduced to notice is 

 one called ceresine, which is obtained near Vienna and else- 

 where, in combination with ozokerite or fossil wax. By heat- 

 ing the latter to 572 Fahr. in a distilling apparatus, a viscid 

 oil, which becomes condensed, is driven off. After cooling 

 the oily mass to about 158 Fahr., sulphuric acid is to be add- 

 ed, and the mixture digested until the carbonaceous matters 

 are separated. By a succession of manipulations unneces- 

 sary to mention, the last of which consists in filtering it hot 

 through animal charcoal, ceresine is obtained white, semi- 

 transparent, or oj^aline, and strongly resembling ordinary 

 white wax or parafiine ; without odor or taste, melting at 

 about 140 Fahr., with a specific gravity of 0.88, insoluble 

 in water, but soluble in alcohol. Candles can be made from 

 this of a hardness equal to that of stearin, burning with a 

 beautiful white light, very lustrous, and having twenty per 

 cent, more illuminating power than stearin. It will not form 

 a soap with alkalies, but may be mixed in all proportions 

 with wax, and, when the two are melted together, it is im- 

 possible to separate or distinguish them. It is now used 

 for various pharmaceutical purj^oses in Vienna for which wax 

 would be employed, among them unguents of all kinds. In- 

 deed, for any purpose it is fully equal to wax or stearin. Not- 

 withstanding its valuable qualities, the price, by the pres- 

 ent mode of manufacture, is much less than that of wax, 

 stearin, or parafiine, being scarcely more than one fifth that 

 of the first -mentioned substance. 9 ^, Ndve?nber 19, 1872, 



of' 



O i. 



