222 



Transactions. 



The water-soluble suint, or wool-perspiration, was examined, with the 

 result that it was found that very large amounts of moisture were absorbed 

 by this constituent. 



Table VI. — Water-soluble Suint. 



The results presented above show that here also the moisture absorbed 

 varies with the relative humidity. 



It is at once apjjarent that the suint, although present in amount of only 

 1 or 2 per cent, in some wools, and up to 12 per cent, in others, is responsible 

 for a relatively large amount of moisture absorbed by the normal wool-fibres. 



In slipe wools this material is largely w^ashed out during the treatment of 

 the skins, and its presence in greasy wools accounts for the increased power 

 of moisture-absorption shown by these wools, and is an important factor in 

 determining the amount of moisture that can be absorbed by the wool-fibre. 



In determining the absorption of moisture by slipe wools it was found 

 that the fatty matter other than wool-fat, which is present in slipe wool to 

 a greater amount than in greasy wools, had the power of slightly retarding 

 the absorption of moisture. This fatty matter, as has already been pointed 

 out, is picked up by the wool from the greasy underside of skin during the 

 washing process. 



In the following experiments the natural wool-fat was first removed by 

 extraction with hot alcohol, and the wool, after drying and weighing, was 

 exposed to the atmosphere, and the amount of moisture absorbed deter- 

 mined ; thereafter the other fatty matter was extracted with ether, and, 

 after drying and weighing, was again exposed to the atmosphere under 

 similar conditions of relative humidity, and the moisture absorbed noted. 



In all cases the wool absorbed more moisture when the foreign fatty 

 matter was removed than in its presence. The results obtained are shown 



in the following table 



Table VII. 



Foreign Fatty Matter. 



2-06 

 2-16 

 2-60 

 2-88 

 3-28 



Moisture absorbed in Pi'e- IVIoisture absorbed in Ab- 

 sence of Fatty Matter, sence of Fatty Matter, 

 per Cent. per Cent. 



11-07 



9-92 



9-98 



10-18 



11-13 



