166 Dr. Thomas Thomson on [March. 



What is called by the name of the Turkey-red dye has 

 long been known in the Levant, and in different parts of 

 Turkey. From that country it made its way to France, 

 and about fifty years ago it was begun in Glasgow, by a 

 Mr. Papillon, who established a Turkey-red dye- work 

 along with Mr. M'Intosh. He made an agreement with 

 the commissioners and trustees for manufactures in Scot- 

 land, that the process was to be by them published for the 

 benefit of the public at the end of a certain term of years. 

 Accordingly, in the year 1803, the trustees laid a minute 

 account of the different steps before the public. The pro- 

 cess has been followed in Glasgow ever since, and many 

 improvements have been introduced. The method of dis- 

 charging the colour, as exhibited in the specimen, was 

 first practised on an extensive scale by Henry Monteath and 

 Company, at Rutherglen Bridge. It is probable that the 

 process was discovered by more than one individual about 

 the same time. I know of at least three claimants ; but 

 not having the means of determining the priority of any of 

 them, I think it better to avoid uncertain details. 



The method of fixing the Turkey-red dye on cloth is 

 complicated and tedious. I shall here give a sketch of the 

 different steps, and explain them so far as they are understood. 



(1 .) The cloth is steeped in a weak alkaline ley, to remove 

 the weaver's dressing. This is technically called the rot- 

 steep. Four or five pounds of caustic potash are generally 

 employed for every 100 lbs. of cloth. The temperature of 

 the solution is from 100° to 120°; the cloth is kept in the 

 steep for 24 hours and then well washed. 



(2.) From 7 to 10 lbs. of carbonate of soda are dissolved 

 in a sufficient quantity of water to keep the cloth (always 

 supposed to weigh 100 lbs.) wet. In this solution the cloth 

 is boiled for some time. 



(3.) It is upon the third process that the beauty of the 

 colour depends more than upon any other. Without it the 

 dye cannot be produced upon new cloth ; but when old 

 cotton cloth that has been frequently washed (a cotton shirt 

 for example) is to be dyed, this process may be omitted 

 altogether. 



A liquor is composed of the following ingredients : — 

 1 gallon of gallipoli oil 



