HORN 805 



of the stag genus, and the simple laminated horns of the ox genus and other kindred 

 genera. The bony horns are called in the French bois, from their likeness to the 

 branch of a tree ; they are annually renewed. The other horn, to which the French 

 appropriate the term cornc, is found on the ox, the antelope, the goat, and sheep 

 kinds.' 



The valuable properties of horn render it susceptible of being employed in a variety 

 of works fit for the turner, snuff-box, and comb maker. The means of softening 

 the horn need not be described, as it is well known to be by heat; but those of cutting, 

 polishing, and soldering it, so as to make plates of large dimensions, suitable to 

 form a variety of articles, may be detailed. The kind of horn to be preferred is 

 that of goats and sheep, from its being whiter and more transparent than the horn 

 of any other animals. When horn is wanted in sheets or plates, it must be steeped 

 in water, in order to separate the pith from the kernel, for about fifteen days in 

 summer, and a month in winter ; and after it is soaked, it must be taken out by one 

 end, well shaken and rubbed in order to get off the pith; after which it must be put 

 for half an hour into boiling water, then taken out, and the surface sawed even 

 lengthways ; it must again be put into the boiling water to soften it, so as to render it 

 capable of separating ; then, with the help of a small iron chisel, it can be divided into 

 sheets or leaves. The thick pieces will form three leaves, those which are thin will 

 form only two, whilst young horn, which is only one quarter of- an inch thick, will 

 form only one. These plates or leaves must again be put into boiling water, and 

 when they are sufficiently soft, they must be scraped with a sharp cutting instrument, 

 to render those parts that are thick even and uniform ; they must be put once more 

 into the boiling water, and finally carried to the press. 



At the bottom of the press employed, there must be a strong block, in which is . 

 formed a cavity, of nine inches square, and of a proportionate depth ; the sheets of 

 horn are to be laid within this cavity, in the following manner : at the bottom, first a 

 sheet of hot iron, upon this a sheet of horn, next again a sheet of hot iron, and so on, 

 taking care to place at the top a plate of iron even with the last. The press must 

 then be screwed down tight. 



There is a more expeditious process, at least in part, for reducing the horn into 

 sheets, when it is wanted very even. After having sawed it with a very fine and 

 sharp saw, the pieces must be put into a copper made on purpose, and there boiled 

 until sufficiently soft, so as to be able to be split with pincers ; the sheets of horn must 

 then be put in the press where they are to be placed in a strong vice, the chaps of 

 which are of iron and larger than the sheets of horn, and the vice must be screwed as 

 quick and tight as possible ; let them cool in the press or vice, or it is as well to 

 plunge the whole into cold water. The last mode is preferable, because the horn 

 does not shrink in cooling. Now draw out the leaves of horn, and introduce other 

 horn to undergo the same process. The horn so enlarged in pressing, is to be 

 submitted to the action of the saw, which ought to be set in an iron frame, if the horn 

 is wanted to be cut with advantage, in sheets of any desired thickness, which cannot 

 be done without adopting this mode. The thin sheets thus produced must bo kept 

 constantly very warm between plates of hot iron to preserve their softness ; every 

 leaf being loaded with a weight heavy enough to prevent its warping. To join, the 

 edges of these pieces of horn together, it is necessary to provide strong iron moulds 

 suited to the shape of the article wanted, and to place the pieces in contact with 

 copper-plates or with polished metal surfaces against them ; when this is done, the 

 whole is to be put into a vice and screwed up tight, then plunged into boiling water, 

 and after some time it is to be removed from thence and immersed in cold water. The 

 edges of the horn will be thus made to cement together and become perfectly united. 



To complete the polish of the horn, the surface must be rubbed with the subnitrate 

 of bismuth by the palm of the hand. The process is short, and has this advantage, 

 that it makes the horn dry promptly. 



When it is wished to spot the horn in imitation of tortoise-shell, metallic solutions 

 must be employed as follows : To spot it red, a solution of gold in aqua regia must 

 be employed ; to spot it black, a solution of silver in nitrjc acjd must be used ; and 

 for brown, a hot solution of mercury in nitric acid. The right side of the horn must 

 bo impregnated with these solutions, and they will assume the colours intended. The 

 brown spots can be produced on the horn by means of a paste made of red lead, with, 

 a solution of potash, which must be put in patches on the horn, and subjected some 

 time to the action of heat. The deepness of the brown shades depends upon the: 

 quantity of potash used in the paste, and the length of time the mixture lies on tho 

 horn. A decoction of Brazil wood, or a solution of indigo, in sulphuric acid, or a de- 

 coction of saffron and Barbary wood may also be used. After having employed these 

 materials, the horn may be left for half a day in a strong solution of vinegar and 

 alum. 



