POISON SUMACH, 401 
portion remaining in the retort was much inspis- 
sated, and upon cooling became nearly solid, 
Being desirous to try the effect of this juice, 
employed as a varnish, I applied a coating of it 
with a brush to different surfaces of wood, glass, 
tinned iron, paper, and cloth. ‘These were  ex- 
posed to the air and light during the whole of 
the months of July and August, at the expira- 
tion of which period they had not become dry. 
Each of the coatings was half fluid and adhesive, 
and had collected much dust. Upon the cloth 
and paper the juice had spread extensively, giv- 
ing them an oily appearance. 
Concluding from this experiment that) the 
juice could not be usefully employed in its crude 
state, I endeavoured to render it more drying by 
the addition of litharge. ‘The compound, which 
resulted from-boiling with this oxyd, became dry 
in a short time, but was not distinguished for sited 
remarkable degree of lustre. 
The third and last experiment proved more 
satisfactory. A quantity of the juice was boiled 
alone, until nearly all the volatile oil had escaped, 
and the remainder was reduced almost to the 
state of aresin, In this state it was applied while 
warm to several substances, which after cooling 
exhibited the most brilliant, glossy, jet black sur- 
