98 ANNUAL OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERT. 



succeeded in this difficult process. He makes a solution of 1 

 part of chloride of copper, 1 part of nitrate of copper, and 1 part 

 of chloride of ammonium, in 64 parts of water and 1 part of 

 commercial hydrochloric acid. This solution acts as a mordant. 

 It is put on with a wide brush over the zinc, which immediately 

 becomes of a deep-black color, forming, according to him, a basic 

 chloride of zinc, and what he calls an amorphous brass. The 

 black color changes in the course of 12 or 24 hours to a gray, and 

 upon this gray surface any oil paint will dry and give a firmly 

 adhering coat. The zinc is by this completely protected both 

 against summer heat and winter rain. 



VEGETABLE HAIR. 



This invention of M. W. Staufen, of Paris, consists in the 

 manufacture of a species of vegetable hair from the fibrous ma- 

 terial which grows through and proceeds from the bark situated 

 near the foot of the palm known as Levistonia or Latania Chinensis. 

 The fibrous material and adherent bark, as imported in the rough 

 state, being first disintegrated by an opening machine, is boiled 

 in an alkaline lye composed of from 5 to 10 lbs. of soda or 

 potash dissolved in 100 gallons of water. This operation, which 

 lasts from half an hour to 2 hours, according to the strength of the 

 lye, is continued till the gummy, resinous, and ligneous matters ad- 

 hering to the fibres are completely removed. Thus cleansed, the 

 material is exposed to the action of a mordant, preparatory to its 

 removal to the dyeing-vat charged with the required color, to 

 which is added 1 to 4 lbs. of oil soap for every 100 lbs. weight 

 of fibre. The dyeing completed, the mass is dried either in the 

 open air or artificially, and is then submitted to the action of 

 ordinary opening and combing machinery, by which the filaments 

 are glazed and divided to the requisite degree of fineness. This 

 material is applied to the different purposes for which horse-hair, 

 bristles, and other kinds of hair have hitherto been employed. — 

 Mechanics'' Magazine. 



INDELIBLE ANILINE INK. 



An indelible marking ink may be prepared from aniline by 

 mixing the two following solutions : — 



1. Cupreous Solution: 



Crystallized chloride of copper, 8.52 grammes. 

 Chlorate of soda, .... 10.65 " 

 Chloride of ammonium, . . 5.35 " 

 Distilled water, .... 60 " 



2. Aniline Solution: 



Hydrochlorate of aniline, 20 grammes. 



Distilled water, . . 30 " 



Solution of gum-Arabic (1 of gum to 2 of water), 20 grammes, 



Glycerine, .... 10 grammes. 



