8 DAMMAR GUM 



warp may be placed either above or below the woof at every intersection ; and to 

 effect this, in boundless variety, is the object of the Jacquard mounting. See LOOM, 

 JACQUARD. 



The chief seat of this manufacture is the town and neighbourhood of Dunform- 

 line, in Fifeshire, and Lisburn and Ardoyno, near Belfast, where it is considered as 

 the staple, having proved a very profitable branch of traffic to the manufacturer, and 

 given employment to many industrious people. 



The material used there is chiefly linen, but many have been recently woven of 

 cotton, since the introduction of that article into the manufacture of cloth has become 

 so prevalent. The cotton damasks are considerably cheaper than those of linen, but 

 are not considered either so elegant or durable. The cotton, also, unless frequently 

 bleached, does not preserve the purity of the white colour nearly so well as the linen. 



DAMASKEENING. The art of ornamenting iron, steel, &c., by making inci- 

 sions upon its surface, and filling them up with gold or silver wire. It is chiefly used 

 in enchasing sword-blades, guards, and grips, locks of pistols, &c. 



Its name shows the place of its origin, or, at least, the place where it has been 

 practised in the greatest perfection, viz., the city of Damascus, in Syria ; though 

 M. Felibien attributes the perfection of the art to his countryman, Cursinet, who 

 wrought under the reign of Henry IV. 



Damaskeening is partly mosaic work, partly engraving, and partly carving. As 

 mosaic work, it consists of pieces inlaid ; as engraving the metal is indented, or cut 

 in intaglio ; and as carving, gold and silver are wrought into it in rilievo. 



There are two ways of damaskeening : in the first, which is the most beautiful, the 

 artists cut into the metal with a graver, and other tools proper for engraving upon 

 steel, and afterwards fill up the incisions, or notches, with a pretty thick silver or 

 gold wire. In the other, which is only superficial, they content themselves to make 

 hatches, or strokes across the iron, &c., with a cutting knife, such as is used in making 

 small files. As to the first, it is necessary for the gravings or incisions to be made in 

 dove-tail form, that the gold or silver wire, which is thrust forcibly into them, may 

 adhere the more strongly. As to the second, which is the more usual, the method is 

 this : having heated the steel till it changes to a violet, or blue colour, they hatch it 

 over and across with a knife, then draw the ensign or ornament intended upon this 

 hatching with a fine brass point or bodkin. This done they take fine gold wire, and 

 conducting or chasing it according to the figures already designed, they sink it carefully 

 into the hatches of the metal with a copper tool. 



An inferior description of damaskeen work has been introduced since the discovery 

 of the electrotype processes. The pattern has been etched on the steel, and then gold 

 or silver deposited into the etched lines. 



DAMASSIN. A kind of damask, with gold and silver flowers woven in the warp 

 and woof, or occasionally with silk organzine. 



DAMBONITE. A cry stalli sable saccharine substance obtained by M. Aim6 

 Girard from a peculiar kind of caoutchouc from the Gaboon on the West coast of 

 Africa. The botanical source of this caoutchouc is not known. Dambonite, when 

 isolated, crystallises in white needles, which contain C 8 H 8 6 (C 4 H 8 O 3 ). It is readily 

 soluble in water and in ordinary alcohol ; it melts at 374 F., (190 C.) and sublimes 

 between 392 and 410 F., (200 and 210 C.). Dambonite is decomposed by 

 hydriodic or by hydrochloric acid, yielding iodide or chloride of methyl, together with 

 a sugar isomeric with glucose, containing C*H 8 6 (C 3 H'O 3 ). This sugar is called 

 Dambose. 



DAMMAR GUM or DAMMARA RESIN 1 . A pale yellow resin, somewhat 

 resembling copal, and used like it in the manufacture of varnishes. Dammara resin 

 is the produce of the Dammara australis, or Kawrie-pine of New Zealand. Large 

 masses of the gum-resin are found in the ground at the base of the pines. ^ Another 

 kind of dammar is obtained from the Dammara alba of India, where it is usually 

 called Dammar Pute, or Cats-eye resin. A substance called Dammar is used in the East 

 Indies for caulking ships. It is composed of this resin, mixed with the powdered 

 bark of the bamboo, and a little chalk. Some Indian dammar is said to come from 

 the D. orientalis t , and the Indian Piney Dammar is yielded by the Vaterica Indica. 



Dammar is largely employed in the preparation of certain varnishes. ' Damar is 

 easily dissolved in oil of turpentine, and when carefully selected is almost colourless ; 

 it makes a softer varnish than mastic ; the two combined, however, form an almost 

 colourless varnish, moderately hard and flexible, and well suited for maps and similar 

 purposes.' Holtzapffel. 



Dammar varnish has been lately recommended for mounting microscopic objects in 

 the stead of Canada balsam. The following recipe for its preparation has been given 

 by Dr. Klein : Dissolve half an ounce of gum-dammar, in powder, in one or two ounces 

 of turpentine, and dissolve half an ounce of gum-matic in two ounces of chloroform ; 



