234* MUCILAGINOUS MATTER. 



podibly anfwer the fame purpofes better than Ihofe above men- 

 tioned. The powder of the lily-root leaves a bitternefs on the 

 tongue. 

 Gum obtained Twelve ounces of the fre(h roots of the white lily being 

 tvaporatijn.^" bruifed and preflfed, yielded by evjaporation one ounce and one 

 quarter of brown gum. 



There being a fmall quantity of it, I made no trial with it; 

 but very probably the exprefled juice might be ufed by the 

 calico-printers with advantage. Thcfe roots can be procured 

 at all times, and propagated to any extent ; but it muft be ob- 

 ferved, that thefe bulbous roots are ftronger when they are 

 without flems, or only beginning to ftioot out leaves; and the 

 prefent time is as proper as any that can be for procuring them. 

 Conofrcy root. I tried comfrey-root ; but the dark colour of the cuticle of 



the root afFedled the folulion, by making it of a dark dirty 

 brown. 



I do not pretend to claim any merit in making the above 

 experiments. Every one who is acquainted with thefe roots* 

 well knows that they are all mucilaginous. My defign is only 

 your patronage, to render them ufeful in (he arts, that their 

 virtues and etfects might not lay dormant, but be rendered 

 ferviceable to trade, 

 powder of After making the above trials, the powder of falop-root 



fjbp r^ot affords ^jjj. ufg^] by ditTolving one drachm of it in four ounces of 

 very lirong . -' " • , t t . 



mucilagtj pro- water, in the manner above mentioned. It produced a very 



bably cheaper ft,ong mucilage, and, when cold, was a perfed jelly, and 

 than gum-.arabic. , , , . , ... , r i ,• r .i 



much clearer than either of the other loiutions. 1 am greatly 



of opinion, that the powder of this root will not only anfwer 

 all the purpofes of gum-arabic, but will be found full as cheap, 

 if not cheaper, in proportion to itsftrength, than gum-arabic; 

 but this is fubmitted to your confideration and triaL 



I have fent fome fpeciraens of the Powder of the Vernal 

 Squill, of While Lily Root, and aifo of the Salop Powder,, 

 in order that they maybe tried by your dirediion; and if they 

 fliouldbe found of benefit to commercei nothing would give 

 me greater pleafure, than to find my flender abilities have 

 been of utility to my country, and h(;noured with the appro- 

 bation of the Society. 



I am. Sir, 



youjr obedient fervant, 



THOMAS WILLIS. 



J^arch22, 1803, 



Examination 



