40 <0>i xht Ufts of Smp ill the Woollen Manufaclorj, 



X. 



' Qhjhvr.'.li::; on i';; Scr.p 5/ /, .1., and iii L'/ii in ire Jrls ^. By J. A. ChaPTAL, Injliud:! 



of tkf Polpechnic SchooL 



1 HAVE fliewn the method of forming, at any time or place, and at a fmall charge, a 

 faponaccous liquid adapted to fupply the place of foap for domelUc purpofcs f. On 

 the prefcnt occafioii I (hall offer a fupplement to my former work, by exhibiting, as a 

 fubftitute for the foft foap ufcd in fulling almoft every kind of woollen ftufl-", a foap of 

 little expence, which may be eafily made in every manufactory. 



In every manufjclory of broaj-cloth, and other fabrics of wool, it is ufual to full the (luff 

 immediately after it has paiTed the loom. This operation is performed not only /or the 

 purpofe of clearing them of the oil, but to give them therequifite denfity. For this purpofe 

 about thirty pounds of foap are ufcd for every eighty pounds of the Huff. This foap ia 

 the fouth (of France) cod twenty livres tlie hundred weight before the Revolution. It 

 confumcd a large part of our oils, as well as thofe of Italy, and all the wood-afties of the 

 domcllic fires in the refpcclive countiies in which it was made. 



Hence it is obvious how greatly be-.ieficial it mu(l prove to the manufadurer, as well 

 as to commerce in general, to be able to fubftitute without difficulty, inftead of tlie foft 

 foap, another compound of materials, eafy to be procured, and of moderate coft. In addi- 

 tion to the faving in the fabrication of the (tuff, very great advantage would be derived 

 from the wood-aflies of our fires being left for domeftic ufo, or for the falt-wotks, or ma- 

 nufactories of green glafs ; at the fame time that the oil formerly confumed would remain 

 to be totally applied to fuch works as cannot be condu£led without it. 



In all ages this problem has offered itfelf for folution to the Manufaflurer and the Go- 

 vernment. FuUcri'-earth, pure alkalis, and other agents, have been fucceffively employed. 

 The (irft of thefe is of inferior quality, either for bleaching or fulling ; the fecond cliffolves 

 the ftuff. The manufa£lurers of Lodeve ftill recolle£l with terror a charlatan fent to 

 them by Government a few years ago, who pretended to fubftitute the mineral alkali in tlie 

 place of foap. 



To thefe inconvcniencies we muft add that of not rendering the cloth fupple, but 

 leaving it in poffcffion of that harflinefs which foap alone removes. It is requifite, there- 

 fore, that whatever fubftance may be offered as a fubftitute for this article fliould poffefs 

 the qualities of cleaning, fulling, and foftening, the ftuff. i he compoCtion I am about 

 to dcfcribe poffeffes all thefe advantages. Experiments have been made at my requcft, at 

 Lodeve, by Citizen Michel Fabriguette, who is intimately acquainted with natural philo- 

 fophy, and a (kilful manufacturer of drapery. 



The whole operation confifts in making an alkaline lixivium of wood-aftics or pot-afli, 

 and diffolving therein, at the boiling heat, old rags %, or clippings of wool, to the point of 



* Nearly a literal trandation from ihe Annales de Chimic, XXT. 27. 



+ See ihe Report of Citizens Pclkiier, D'Aixct, andXeiicvre, on the fabiicaiion of Soap. 



\ Old woollen rags are a very cheap article in tJiis country. But, ais. every other kiiul of hair itiuft cer- 

 tiinly anfwcr, and horns and hoofs probably "ill, there muft be an immenfe and probably cheaper loorce in the 

 rcfufc of the tanners, hog-butchers, hornert, and comb-cutters. All ttiefr, at profcnt, are ufed only as ms- 

 nurc. N. 



faturation. 



