598 ANNUAL RECORD OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 



solvent of sulphur nor by boiling water. 5 (7, 1873, xv., 

 120. 



KEEPING WOOL IN A MOIST CONDITION. 



The theory of many wool-dyers that stowing away washed 

 wool in a moist condition before dyeing is in many cases ad- 

 vantageous, or even necessary, and never injurious, seems 

 contrary to the facts, no attention being paid to the disagree- 

 able odor or other changes produced in it, which in many 

 cases arc not only injurious, but dangerous. Spontaneous 

 combustion may occur, especially with greasy wool, and 

 therefore no more wool of this kind should be washed than 

 can be dyed in three to four days; and even with common 

 wool a tendency to decomposition is produced in that time, 

 and the unpleasant odor acquired is not easily removed by 

 simple washing. Chrome-dyed avooI may even be injured by 

 unequal penetration of air into heaps or basketfuls, unless it 

 is well cooled, and turned after a short time. For the most 

 part, however, lying for twelve hours is not injurious to mor- 

 danted wool, but rather beneficial ; and when alum and tar- 

 tar have been used for madder -dyeing, a period of three 

 davs is advisable, if it has been well cooled. Brown and olive 

 darken by lying in heaps. Wool treated with sulphuric acid, 

 unless washed very soon, becomes brittle, and loses in color. 

 25 (7, March, 1873, 89. 



TREATMENT OF WOOL BY GLYCERINE. 



According to Asselin, glycerine has hitherto failed to an- 

 swer its expected part in the treatment of the fibre of wool 

 for dyeing in consequence of a want of knowledge of its act- 

 ual properties as a solvent, and he has been engaged in de- 

 termining the degree of solubility in glycerine first, of the 

 metallic soaps, and those of magnesia and of lime ; second, 

 of the sub-soaps, or soaps with an excess of base ; third, of 

 the sulphate of lime of calcareous waters. As the result of 

 his labors, he comes to the conclusion that a rational and 

 moderate use of glycerine in the treatment of wool will aid 

 in the manufacture of certain tissues of uniform tints and of 

 bright colors, which has been considered impossible by some. 

 Fabrics worked from wool so treated always possess great 

 superiority in their soft and pleasant feel, quite different from 



