776 CHINOLINB 



CHINA GRASS. A fibre obtained from the stalk of the Baehmerm ( Urtica) nivca, 

 a plant belonging to the Urticacea, or Nettle order. 



CHINA INK. (Encre dc Chine, Fr. ; Chinesischer Tusch, Ger.) It is said that 

 the true China ink is made from the condensed smoke or soot of burned camphor ; 

 and hence, when of the best quality, it has this odour. 



Most of the China ink is made from oil lampblack, disguised as to smell with 

 musk, or with a little camphor-black. The binding substance is gelatine, commonly 

 made from parchment ; but isinglass answers equally well. A good imitation may 

 bo made by dissolving isinglass in warm water, with the addition of a very little 

 alkali to destroy the gelatinising power, and incorporating with that solution, by 

 levigation on a porphyry slab, as much of the finest lampblack as to produce a mass of 

 the proper consistence. The minute quantity of alkali serves also to saponify the oil 

 which usually adheres to lampblack, and thereby to make a pigment misciblo with water. 



CHINA STONE. This is usually regarded as a semi-decomposed granito 

 (Petuntse) which has nearly the same composition as the China clay (see CLAY). 

 Indeed, the China clay can be considered as little more than this granite in a more 

 advanced state of decomposition.' DC la Beche. It is evident that we have adopted 

 the word Pe-tun-tsc somewhat hastily as indicating this peculiar granite. The fol- 

 lowing note by M. A. Salvetat will explain its true meaning : 



' Nous ferons observer une fois pour tout que 1'expression Pe-tun-tse designe les 

 tablettes ou carreaux de matiere blanche dont on va parlor, et que la pate blanche 

 s'appelle Pe-tun. Le mot Tse (vulgoJHs) qui termine le mot Pe-tun-tse, sert a former 

 des substantifs diminutifs. Ainsi Pe-tun signifie la matiere blanche et Tse ajoute a 

 Pe-tun indique des portions, des carreaux de pate, des briquettes de Pe-tun. II y a 

 des carreaux de pate de differentes couleurs : pour les distinguer, on fait prc6dor lo 

 mot Tun-tse du nom de la couleur. On dit, par exemple, Hoang-tun-tse, des carreaux 

 de pate jaune.' Histoire et Fabrication de la Porcelaine ckinoise, Paris, 1856. 



The China stone is a kind of granite, the felspar of which is in a peculiar state, as 

 if it had undergone a partial decomposition. It is carefully selected so as to be en- 

 tirely free of schorl, and requires no other preparation for the market than to be broken 

 into a size convenient for carriage. This granito is of a peculiar nature ; it does not 

 contain any mica, but numerous glossy scales of greenish-yellow talc. It has been 

 stated by some authors that ' this rock (Pegmatite or Graphic granite), after exposure 

 to the decomposing action of the weather, is the chief source ' of the China stone and 

 clay. This represents but very imperfectly indeed, incorrectly the conditions. 

 The decomposition of the granite, if it be decomposition, is not brought about by the 

 action of the weather, but by some peculiar action proceeding to a considerable depth 

 through the whole mass. In many places, from the very surface to the depth of more 

 than 100 feet, this condition is equally apparent; and possibly it extends to much 

 greater depths in some places. The same stone exposed to the air does not, in any 

 ordinary time, exhibit any signs of disintegration. No satisfactory explanation has 

 yet been offered of the conditions which operate on the granite to produce the Kaolin 

 and the China stone. Indeed, in the minds of many, who have carefully observed all 

 the conditions of the China clay and of the China stone in situ, there has originated 

 the idea, that they rather represent the conditions of an imperfectly-formed granite, 

 than of such as has suffered decomposition. China stone is much used in the manu- 

 facture of the finest varieties of porcelain, and especially for the production of tho 

 most perfect glazes. 



There was an agreement existing amongst the producers of China stone to send off 

 annually only 12,000 tons ; but when the demand is brisk, this has been extended to 

 18,000 tons, and sometimes even more. Tho value of the China stone at the works 

 in Cornwall is annually about 1,800?, Tho whole that is raised is sent to the Stafford- 

 shire potteries. 



CHTNESE BLUE. Several compositions are sold under this name ; it is some- 

 times a mixture of ultramarine with flake white, and sometimes a mixture of cobalt 

 blue and white lead. See BLUE PIGMENTS. 



CHINESE CRASS CXiOTH, or Ramcc. A fabric woven from China grass. 



CHINESE TAXiIiOW. A white vegetable tallow covering the seeds of the 

 Stillingia scbifcra. It is used in making candles. 



CHINESE WAX. A white waxy secretion, resembling spermaceti, found on 

 the branches of a species of ash (Fraxiniis Chinensis), grown in China, and probably 

 produced by tho puncture of an insect (Coccus Pe-la}. The wax is chiefly a cerotato 

 of ceryl. It is used in China for making candles. 



CHIM'OIDIN'B. A brownish resin-like substance obtained from the mother-liquor 

 left in the preparation of quinine. 



CHINOI.INE. C">H'N (CH 7 ). A volatile base, found in coal naphtha, and 

 also, accompanied by several others, in tho basic fluid obtained by distilling cinchonine 

 with potash. C. G. W. 



