THE MICROSCOPIC STUDY OF FIBRES. 7 
THE MICROSCOPIC) SEUDY “OF FLBRES: 
By James CHEYNEY. 
HE Microscope IN THE DyE-RooM.—The delicacy of the pro- 
cesses of dyeing, and the ease with which slight differences in 
the dyes or in the waters supplied to the dyer modify the final 
results, render any method of examination which gives correct in- 
formation of defects and their mode of occurrence great value. In 
this field no other instrument will compare with the microscope. 
To test the injury inflicted upon wool by various washing fluids, 
we employed a little accessory to the microscope, which enabled 
us to keep the fibre in the field of the microscope for any required 
time, while it was still immersed in the fluid. 
The same instrument, disregarding the weighing attachment, is 
admirably adapted for use in examining the effects of dyes. Our 
object here is, first, to examine the character of the results of the 
dye upon the fibre ; and, secondly, to perform any special opera- 
tions in the art desired under the field of view of the microscope, 
so as to find at what stage of the process defects, if such are found, 
arise. It is only possible in so vast a field to indicate methods of 
working, illustrating them by a few well-known cases. . 
The Marks of Perfect Dyeing.—We must first become familiar 
with the microscopic appearances in standard or perfectly dyed 
examples. Let us take, for example, one of the best of the 
beautiful, glossy sateens, which are so justly admired, and study it 
carefully. It will bear study in many ways, but we will keep our 
own point in view. Cutting off a piece about half an inch square, 
and fraying off the threads on each side till the ends are well 
exposed, soak the piece for ten minutes in a mixture of glycerine 3 
parts, water 7 parts, and warm it gently, so as to expel the air from 
the tissue. Now place it upon the lower plate of “the compressor,” 
and dropping over it several drops of the glycerine mixture, lower 
the thin glass upon it, and place it on the microscope, with a power 
of from 150 to 200 diameters. We find the fibres to be exceed- 
ingly perfect ones, not broken or split up by carding as the fibres of 
so many cotton goods are, but they are even and fine throughout. 
The colours are imbodied evenly in these fibres, appearing to be 
incorporated into the fibrous substance, and not deposited i in grains 
or irregular masses within or upon the fibre. No manipulation will 
suffice to shake off any loose dye from the fabric, and the fluid in 
which it is soaked is neither tinted nor rendered dusty by loose 
fragments. Whatever may be the colours of the fabric they are all 
~ equally free from this loose deposit, and are all imbodied into the 
