1868. | Ransome’s Patent Concrete Stone. 165 
four minutes. The plastic mass is then put into moulds, and 
rammed firmly into the corners and interstices by means of wooden 
instruments designed for the purpose. When turned out of the 
moulds the edges all present a very sharp rigid appearance, and in 
the further process to which they are subjected, the mouldings 
retain their precise form and size without either shrinking or 
cracking. After being turned out of the moulds, they are played 
upon with a solution of chloride of calcium in a cold state, which 
speedily solidifies the mass. The castings are next immersed into a 
bath containing a solution of chloride of calcium, haying a specific 
gravity of about 1:400, and a temperature of about 212°. After 
this operation it only remains to wash away the chloride of sodium, 
which is readily effected by placing the stone under a dripping 
shower-bath. This done, the stone is ready for any purpose for which 
it may be designed. 
The following is an extract from a report by Dr. Edward 
Frankland, F.R.S., &c., Professor of Chemistry at the Royal In- 
stitution, London, dated December 21st, 1861 :— 
“T have submitted to experimental investigation the samples 
of stone forwarded to this laboratory, and have now to report as 
follows:—The experiments were made in the following manner. 
The samples were cut as nearly as possible of the same size and 
shape, and were well brushed with a hard brush. Each sample 
was then thoroughly dried at 212°, weighed, partially immersed in 
water until saturated, and again weighed ; the porosity or absorptive 
power of the stone was thus determined. It was then suspended 
for forty-eight hours in a very large volume of each of the following 
acid solutions, the alteration in weight after each immersion being 
separately estimated. The sample was then boiled with water 
until all acid was removed and again weighed. Finally it was dried 
at 212°, brushed with a hard brush, and the total degradation or 
loss since the first brushing was ascertained. The following 
numbers were obtained :— 
Hy 2, 
3 PB Percentage alleration in weight by im- | fs g3|\b | § g 
oe ree mersion in dilute acid, le853\ 0/58 
Sse -|S82F| ea |/88 
Dowd | | rom = 
Name of Stone. 2 is § Of 1 per cent.| Of 2 per cent. Of 4 percent. & Smal 3 | $= 
oS ta] - . . se] gai|v 
Bes Acid. Acid. Acid. se ea(E5 |oa 
23 esssla | sa 
S Loss. | Gain. | Loss, | Gain. | Loss.| Gain. e A 
Bathe: 5 ce 5) LLB 1:28 | — | 2:82 |;:— | 205) — 591 26 | 6:17 
Cacniemea « 6) 6 9°86 2°13 4°30 — 67 _ 11°73 1°60 | 13:33 
FATIDIGT Vee cy xe = 4°15 118 — 4:00 _— _— 1°04 3 56 ‘29 3°85 
Portland) = . « 8°86 1°60 — 1:10 _ 1°35 —_ 3°94 24 |} 418 
DSTO Ve edhe A 6:09 3°52 _ 3°39 _ S11 —_ 1111 "27 | 11°38 
Whitby). -f. cere 3 8°41 1°07 _ — 53 None. | None. 1°25 18 | 1°43 
Mare Eas, tmeetra 0\) c431 15 | — = 60 | None.| None. 98 Ib | a-138 
Park Spring. <>. ; 4°15 “71 —_— _— 10 15 —_— 81 | None 81 
Ransome’s Patent. . 6°53 _ 95 | None.) None.' None.) None. 63 31 94 
