16 ON THE REDUCTION OF LIMAILLE. 



able fluidity of the flux is to be desired, so that by 

 gravitation, even the finer particles of gold may 

 descend through it and be collected. Equally im- 

 portant is the necessity for employing a flux, capa- 

 ble of separating the impurities prior to the actual 

 fusion of the metal, so that the gold itself may be 

 purified during the process in the furnace. It is 

 my pleasure this evening to ofler you results 

 obtained from long experience. I purpose to 

 satisfy you that the process I am about to describe 

 is almost costless, and certain of producing a suc- 

 cessful result when strictly carried out ; and that 

 by employing so small a proportion of an extremely 

 fluid flux, a large weight of filings may be purified 

 and gathered, without fear of effervescence, or loss 

 of any kind. 



The formula is as follows : — Sift the limaiUe, 

 thoroughly magnetize it, and place it in a Wedg- 

 wood basin, in such quantity, that it fills no more 

 than about one-third of the space. By slow degrees, 

 add hydrochloric acid and water (in the proportion 

 of one part acid, four water) and place the basin on 

 a sand-bath over a furnace fire ; the mixture may 

 now be heated to the boiling point, and the heat 

 continued for an hour, during which time it should 

 be constantly stirred with a smooth stick, the 

 filings will fall to the bottom of the vessel, and the 

 bone-dust will be dissolved ; pour off" the fluid, and 

 well wash the filings with boiling water ; by turn- 

 ing the vessel from side to side whilst washing, 



