350 Experiments dnd Olscrvafto/is on Lac. 



tion of the first strength. [lY. B. A pood is -JO ponuci.^ 

 Rusviau, which are equal to 35 pounds and a half or 30 

 pounds English avoirdupoise.] 



" Powder of the second strength. — Take southern-wood 

 cut into small pieces, four pounds; juniper-berries pound- 

 ed, three pounds ; connnon saltpetre pounded, four pounds; 

 A7//p/i//r pounded, two pounds and a half ; Symrna tar, or 

 myrrh, one pound and a half: mix the aljove together; 

 which will produce half a pood of the powder of fumiga- 

 tion of the second strength. 



" Odoriferous powder. — Take the root called /Y//m?/:y, cut 

 into small pieces, three poundt; ; leaves of juniper, cut iiito 

 small pieces, four pounds ; frankincense pounded grossly, 

 one pound ; storax pounded, and rose flowers, half a 

 pound ; yellow amber pounded, one pound ; common .^oZf- 

 /JC'//e pounded, one pound and a half; stdptiiir, a quarter 

 of a pound : mix all the above together ; which will pro- 

 duce nine pounds and three quarters of the odoriferous 

 powder. 



'^ In all these, the acid funics from the nitre and sulphur 

 form the principal part. The rest appears only useful in 

 holding these in a state of longer suspension." 



LXI. Analytical Experiments a?id Observations on Lac. 

 By Chaki.es Hatchett, Esq. F. R.S.* 



J. H^ period is uncertain when the substance called Lac, 

 so curious in its origin and so useful to many arts, was first 

 introduced into P^urope ; and although it probably was 

 known to the antients, yet the inaeeuracv of their descrip- 

 tions precludes this from being stated as a positive fact. 



The natives of India have kmg. emploved it for various 

 pvu'poses, exclusive of those which cause it to be in request 

 with Europeans ; but many of the Indian processes are ua- 

 doubtedlv as vet unknown to us. 



One of these, of a very useful nature, was some time 

 since obligingly communicated to me by Charles Wilkins, 

 Esq. F. K.S., and has been the cause of this inquiry into 

 the nature and properties of lac. 



Mr. Wiikins informed me, that the Hindus dissolve 

 shell lac in wa.er, by the mere addition of a little borax; 

 and the solution, being then mixed with ivory-black, or 

 lamp-black, is employed by them as an ink, which, when 



* From Philosophical Transactions for 1S04. 



dry. 



