249 Dr. Wallace on 
alterations. Let me remind you that the cocoons conveniently 
prepared were placed within linen or some other fabric permeable 
to water, were then passed through many waters in succession 
containing soap and potass in order to separate the different 
layers of silk which compose the cocoon, were placed not too 
dry nor yet too moist in a vessel of a cup-shape (either one or 
in compartments), and were then reeled when nearly dry—differing 
from the method of reeling closed cocoons, which is done on the 
surface of water more or less boiling. 
“Such was our first method. The following are the modifica- 
tions resulting from our experiences :—It seemed easier, and likely 
to save time, to have a-plate divided into several cups, which might 
be removed at will, and to place therein the cocoons for reeling. 
This plate of any form should fit the bason of the ordinary wind- 
ing machine, such as they use in the South of France. Each cup 
is pierced with little holes in its centre, for the admission (if de- 
sirable) of steam from the hot water in the bason, in order to 
supply the necessary amount of moisture which the cocoons may 
have lost. No change is made in preparing the cocoons and 
reeling them when nearly dry, but they are placed in the moveable 
cups pierced with holes fitting into the plate as described. These 
plates, with moveable cups, are well suited to reel cocoons natu- 
rally open, so long as they contain the chrysalis (plein), but seem 
no longer to answer when the cocoons are empty (vides), that is, 
when the moth has escaped. 
‘In fact, the force used to draw apart and collect the single 
threads (brins), no longer finds a counterpoise in the empty co- 
coons, which do not remain in the cups, but are drawn out. 
Hence it becomes necessary to give the empty cocoons a certain 
weight, a certain resistance, sufficient to retain them “in situ,” but 
not so great as to rupture the threads. After considerable expe- 
rience, | conceived an apparatus intended to retain the empty 
cocoons, and yet allow the reeling to proceed easily and rapidly. 
This apparatus 1s composed of several skewers (broches), carrying 
needles of varying height, and it is placed on a bason for the pur- 
pose, if necessary, of keeping the cocoons in a state of slight 
moisture, by means of steam from water beneath, more or less 
boiling in the bason. These empty cocoons are reeled, as we 
have already stated, when nearly dry, but’ yet they require a certain 
amount of moisture, which is indispensable for the perfect tor- 
sion of the several threads (brins) which go to form the one strand 
(fil). The needles have, Ist, an olive-shaped head, which is capped 
