24 KIRSCHWASSEB 



Ash of Dorsetshire shale Portland cement 

 Insoluble residue .... 29-01 



Peroxide of iron .... 7*10 5-30 



Silica . . . . . . 2175 22-23 



Alumina 10-60 775 



Lime 20-62 54-11 



Carbonic acid .... 10-92 2-15 



100-00 91-54 



Some few years since works were established at Wareham, for the purpose of 

 extracting naphtha, and other products, from the shale by distillation ; but the 

 manufacture was abandoned in consequence of the impossibility of destroying the 

 smell given out by the naphtha. We learn (1874) that the works are to be resumed. 



The treatment of the shale at Wareham, according to Mr. John C. Mansel, was 

 conducted in the following manner : 



The retorts were charged with about 5 cwts. of shale, prevously broken into pieces 

 about 2 inches square, and the temperature was maintained as nearly uniform as pos- 

 sible. In order to obtain the required uniform temperature the retorts were constructed 

 so as to have backs of lead. The gas formed in the retorts was then condensed by 

 means of a leaden worm, and the product was a crude oil ; a large quantity of gas was 

 made during this operation, which was not condensed, but used for ordinary purposes. 

 The crude oil was allowed to stand in long tanks for 48 hours, for the purpose of 

 letting the ammoniacal water (of which there is a large quantity) subside. The oil 

 was then put into a still and rectified once or twice as the case might be. The first 

 product was a light oil, making overproof 75 ; the next products were heavy oils, con- 

 taining paraffine. 



The shale, on being taken out of the retorts, was placed in close vessels, and when 

 cool was ground in a mill for manure. In its unmanufactured state the shale was 

 not sufficiently rich in ammonia for this purpose ; but at this stage the artificial 

 manure was said to be as valuable as Ichaboe guano, both having been recently 

 analysed for the purpose of comparison. By keeping the temperature low in the 

 retorts, neither the phosphates nor the organic matter were destroyed. 



KIMCERIDGE COAXi. See KIMEBIDGE CLAY or SHALE. 



KING'S BIiUZ:. See BLTJE PIGMENTS. 



KINGSTON'S MET AXi. An alloy which is known as Kingston's metal is 

 much used for the bearings and packings of machinery. James Pole Kingston 

 patented in 1853 the use of an alloy which he specified as prepared in the following 

 manner : 



An alloy, consisting of copper 9 Ibs. and tin 24 Ibs., is first melted ; then 9 Ibs. of 

 mercury are added, and the whole combined. When cooled, it is ready to be used. 



KING'S YEIjXiOW. A mixture of arsenious acid and orpiment, used as a pig- 

 ment. 



XING-WOOD is imported from the Brazils, and is sometimes called violet 

 wood. This is one of the most beautiful of the hard woods, and is used in small 

 cabinet work. 



KINIC ACID. A peculiar acid extracted by Vauquelin from cinchona. 



KCNO is an extract obtained most probably from the Pterocarpus marsupium, 

 which grows on the Malabar coast. In India kino is used for dyeing cotton a nankeen 

 colour. It is of a reddish-brown colour, has a bitter styptic taste, and consists of 

 tannin and extractive, 75 parts, and a red gum 25 parts. It is used only as an 

 astringent in medicine. Kino is often called a gum, but most improperly so. 



KIP. A Malacca weight for tin, of 40 Ibs. 1 1 oz. avoirdupois. Simmonds. 



KIPS. The tanners call the skins of young animals kips. The skins of full- 

 grown cattle of small breed are also so called. See LEATHER. 



XIRSCHWASSER is an alcoholic liquor obtained by fermenting and distilling 

 bruised cherries, called Kirschen in German. The cherry usually employed in Switzer- 

 land and Germany is a kind of morello, which on maturation becomes black, and has 

 a kernel very large in proportion to its pulp. When ripe, the fruit, being made to 

 fall by switching the trees, is gathered by children ; thrown promiscuously, unripe, ripe, 

 and rotten into tubs; and crushed either by hand, or with a wooden beater. The 

 mashed materials are set to ferment ; and, whenever this process is complete, the 

 whole is transferred to a still, and the spirit is run off, by placing the pot over the 

 common fireplace. 



The fermented mash is usually mouldy before it is put into the alembic, the capital 

 of which is luted on with a mixture of mud and dung. The liquor has accordingly, for 

 tfie most part, a rank smell, and is most dangerous to health, not only from its own 



