86 ANNUAL OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY. 



even a small quantity of drying-oil causes the parafTin to arlhere 

 much more lirmly to the texture of the clotli, from tlie oil gradu- 

 ally becoming converted into a tenacious resin by absorption of 

 oxygen. Paraflin is now first molted with the requisite (juautity 

 of drying oil and cast into blocks; it can then be apjilied to fab- 

 rics, by rubbing tlicm over with a block of it, cither cold or 

 gtMitly warmed ; or the mixture may be melted and laid on with a 

 brusli, the comi)lete impregnation being elfected by subsequently 

 passing it between hot rollers. When applied to cloth tiuis, it 

 renders it very r(;j)ellant to water, though pervious to air. Cloth 

 paraflined in this manner forms an excellent basis for such arti- 

 cles as capes, tarpaulins, etc., which re(iuire to be made (]uite 

 inqx-rvious Ijy subseipiently coating them with drying-oil, the 

 l)arafiin, in a great measure, preventing the injurious inlluence of 

 drying-oil on the fibre of the cloth. The mixture can also be 

 very advantageously applied to the various kinds of leather ; one 

 of tli(» most convenient ways of efrecting this is to coat the; arti- 

 cles with the composition, and then to gently heat them until it is 

 entirely absorbed. When leather is thus impregnated, it is not 

 only rend(!red perfectly water-proof, but also stronger and more 

 durable; boots and shoes are 'rendered very firm without losing 

 their elasticity; it therefore not only makes them exceedingly 

 durable, but does not interfere with their polish, which, on the 

 Avhole, it rather improves. The superioritj'^ of paraffin over most 

 otluu' materials, ft)r some kinds of water-proofing, consists in its 

 comparative cheapness, in being easily applied, and in not mate- 

 rially' altering the color of fal)rics, which, in the case of light 

 shades and white cloth, is of considerable importance. — Practical 

 Mechanics' Journal, April, I8G0. 



LINOLEUM MANUFACTURE. 



The manufacture of this new and intei'csting material, which 

 threatens to ri\ al the India-rubber trade in the multiijlicity and 

 utility of its application, is based on the invention of Mr. Fred- 

 erick Walton, whose patents are now worked by the Linoleum 

 Manufacturing Company at Staines, and 45 Cannon Sti'cet, West. 

 The word linoleum is derived from linum (linseed) and oleum 

 (oil), from which products the new substance is made. The lin- 

 seed oil of commerce is solidified or "oxydized" by the absorp- 

 tion of oxygen, by which process it becomes changed into a semi- 

 resinous substance. It is then combined, at a strong heat, with 

 resinous gums and other ingredients ; and the substance thus 

 obtained has all the appearance and many of the properties of 

 India-rubber. 



Those who are conversant with the uses of the pliable elastic 

 gums readily perceive the wide field of usefulness that any 

 material possessing such jiroperties is designed to occupy, more 

 especially as the price of the new substance is much lower than 

 India-rubber or gutta-percha. Linoleum can also be dissolved 

 into a varnish or cement in the same manner as India-rubber, and 

 m this form can be employed in the manufacture of material for 



