i|j Prrparatkn of Soap fi-om Wool. 



every kind, tlicre arc a number of operations performed, from die firft waflung of the mai- 

 terial to the la(l package of the finifhcd article, which occafion more or lefs of lofs. The 

 water in which the wool is agitated to cicanfc it, the door on which it is fpread out, the 

 warehoufe where it isdepofited, all afFordwafte wool; as do the operations of beating, carding, 

 fpinning, weaviiTg, fulling, napping and folding. In all thefe fcveral manipulations we every 

 where fee a rcfidue of wool, which, it is true, is colledled with fome care ; but many of thefe 

 operations are of fuch a nature, that the remains of wool they afford are foiled and mixed 

 with foreign matters, or clfe cut and rendered too fhort to enter into fome fabrics ; fo that 

 they are moftly thrown on the dunghill. This nianufailurc of foap aflbrds the means 

 of converting them all to ufe. Nothing more is required, but to col1c£l them all in tiiofc 

 bafketsin which the wool is waflied, and to vvafli them with care, for the purpofe of fepa- 

 ratinq impurities and foreign fubftances -, after which, they are to be referved for this ufe. 



The cuttings of .^il the woollen Huffs, afforded by the ihops of manufadlurers, dealers, taj'- 

 lors, and the like, may be advantageoully coUeded for this purpofe ■, and the fame advantage 

 may be derived from the remains of garments after they arc worii out. 



II. Method of Making the Soap. 



When the lye and the wool are both ready, it remains only to caufe the lye to boil in a 

 vcffcl of the common form. When it has arrived at this point, the wool is to be added by 

 fmall quantities at a time, and agitated to caufe a more fpeedy folutlon. Care mud be taken 

 not to add more wool, until the firll portions are diffolved. The operation mull be (lopped 

 the moment the liquor refufes to diffolve more. 



From the operations in the large way, made by Michel Fabriguctte, with foaps of his own 

 fabrication, after the method I communicated to him, it is certain that this foap cleans, felts, 

 and fupples the cloths perfctTtty well. But its ufe requires a few important obfervationa to 

 be made. 



1. When the foap is not made with therequifite care, or when dirty or coloured wool has 

 been employed, the fabric receives from the foap a grey tinge, which it is very difficult to 

 eradicate. This tinge is of no confequence when the (luff is intended to be dyed ; but it 

 would injure the beauty of that white colour which in certain goods is intended to be pre- 

 ferved. The remedy confifts in employing the mod felecl materials to form the foap in- 

 tended for fuch delicate applications. 



2. Stuffs fulled with this foap contraifl an animal odour, which, though not very (Iroiig, 

 is neverthelefs dlfagreeable ; but water and the air completely remove it. 



After having fucceeded in the employ of this foap in fulling cloths made of wool, I at- 

 tempted to fubllitute foda for potafh, and to form, according to the procefs here dcfcribed, a 

 folid foap, proper for the operations of dyeing cottons. My experiments have fuccccdcd be- 

 yond my hopes. 



Forty-fix pounds of foda at eight degrees diffolved at the temperature of ebullition five 

 pounds of wool *, and afforded, by cooling, fixteen pounds fourteen ounces of foap fufficiently 

 Rilid not to be fpread (couler). 



Tha 



• Iti^ affirmed, that when common fea fait is thrown into the combination of oil ami vegetable alkali in the pro- 

 tefsof foap-making, the efrcAconfifts not merely in the reparation of the foap fromthc viMcr, now rendered laic, 

 but (tut the alkaUs chanj;e place ; fo chat the fuap obtaim the mineral alkali, and t'ac fluid, inlUad of contain- 

 ing 



