250 On the Origin and Discovert/ of Iron. 



at a lower temperature; but the greater part of the expulsion, 

 on which the purity and quality of the iron depended, took 

 place under the hammer. By the introduction of smelting, a 

 fusion comparatively perfect was obtained, and the charge 

 of the furnace in a short time resolved into fluid scoria and 

 metal. The basis of the operation, therefore, was completely 

 changed ; and it became the principal operation of the smith to 

 remove the crudeness imparted by flision to the iron, by such 

 means and processes as occurred to him, or as experience pointed 

 out, and to which has since been given the term of refining. 



As this part of the operation would be the first and earliest 

 attempt at the refining-fiu'nace, so it is probable that the re- 

 sulting bar-iron would be found in point of quality, toughness, 

 and purity of fi-acture, superior to the iron obtained in the air- 

 furnace. A conclusion would be formed by the smith in fa- 

 vour of the general use of bellows; and at this juncture those 

 trials and experiments would commence, which terminated in 

 the general introduction of the blast-bloomery, a furnace that 

 for many ages maintained itself exclusively for the manufac- 

 ture of iron over every iron-making country in Europe. 



The furnace was constructed of stone capable of standing a 

 high temperature, about two feet in height, and from a foot and 

 a half to two feet square within, according to the power of the 

 bellows : on the lower end of the furnace were two openings, 

 one large in the front, the other of smaller dimensions behind, 

 or on one side, for the insertion of the blast pipe. When the 

 furnace was properly filled and heated with charcoal, a certain 

 measure of ore and charcoal was added, according to the size 

 of the bloom or blooms wished to be obtained, and which could 

 be conveniently removed by the front opening in the furnace. 

 The bellows were then urged. The charge melted, and the 

 iron in the state of a crude steel, more or less separated from 

 the ores, rested in an imperfectly fluid state upon the furnace 

 bottom. Another operation therefore followed : After adding 

 a measure of charcoal to cover effectually the surface of the 

 metal, the nose cf the bellows' pipe was inclined towards its 

 surface, and part of the vitrid matter formed during the fusion 

 allowed to run out. After blowing on the metal a certain 

 length of time, it gradually by the burning out of the carbon 

 became thick and lumpy. Iron bars were introduced at the 

 front opening to break up the mass and to expose the lumps 

 to the action of the blast, as is at present done in the charcoal 

 refinery. When the operation was deemed complete, and the 

 iron enough refined, the burning mass was removed through 

 the front opening, either to the anvil or a large stone, and 

 there beat into form. 



In 



