474 PAPER-CUTTING 



present. The residue is then crude palmitin ; and it is purified by repeated crystal- 

 lisations with ether. When thus obtained it is in small crystals ; these fuse, and 

 become, on cooling, a semi-transparent mass, which may be easily reduced to powder. 

 It is almost entirely insoluble in cold alcohol, and only slightly soluble in boiling 

 alcohol, from which it again separates, on cooling, in flakes. It is soluble in all pro- 

 portions in boiling ether. 



M. Duffy states that there are three modifications of palmitin, differing in their 

 melting-point : the first melting at 115 Fahr., the second melting at 142 Fahr., and 

 the third at 145'2 Fahr. 



P AIM-OIL. See OILS. 



PAXJtt-STrGAK. The juices of many of the palms yield a saccharine matter, 

 from which cane-sugar can be extracted. 



PALIVI-TREE. The woods obtained from the various palms of the tropics pass 

 under different names in commerce, according to the patterns they present. The only 

 two varieties much used are : the Betel-nut palm, or Areca catechu, which yields a 

 wood of a light yellow-brown colour ; and the Cocoa-nut palm, Cocos nucifera. This 

 wood is of a chestnut-brown colour. It is much employed for joists, water-troughs, 

 &c., in small quantities for marquetry, and other ornamental works. We receive this 

 wood under the various names of palm, palmetto, palmyra, nutmeg, leopard, and 

 porcupine woods. The last two receive their names accordingly as the section is 

 made in one direction or another. 



If the wood is cut horizontally it exhibits dots, like spice ; when cut obliquely, the 

 markings are something like the quills of the porcupine. 



P AXiM-WAX, the produce of the Ceroxylon Andicola, a palm growing in tropical 

 America. The stem of the tree is thickly covered with wax, which is scraped off and 

 softened and purified in hot water. It is mixed with tallow to render it less brittle ; 

 and in this state it is used in South America for candles. The leaves of the Carnauba 

 palm are coated with a layer of wax, which peels off, and is collected when the leaves 

 are dried. Teschemaker informs us that the leaves of the dwarf-palm are imported 

 into the United States from the West Indian Islands for the use of the hatters ; they 

 are thickly covered with wax. See CAENATJBA. 



PANTrri CATION. The making of bread. See BREAD. 



PANTXXiE. A curvilinear tile, so formed to facilitate the flow of water. Plain 

 tiles are flat tiles. 



PAPAVERINZ. C 40 H 2I N0 8 (C M H 21 lff0 4 ). One of the many alkaloids con- 

 tained in opium. It was discovered by Merck in 1850, but has been chiefly examined 

 by Dr. Anderson. 



PAPER-COAX.. (Papwrkohlc, Ger.) A name given to certain layers of lignite, 

 from their leaf-like character ; this mineral is known also as Dysodtte. 



PAPER-CUTTING. Some machines have been patented for this purpose ; 

 one by Mr. Crompton of Farnworth, and another by Enoch Miller. Mr. Edward 

 Cowper patented a machine which has been extensively employed, and which, there- 

 fore, we must describe. It consists of a machine, with a reel on which the web of 

 paper of very considerable length has been previously wound ; this web of paper being 

 of sufficient width to produce two, three, or more sheets when cut. 



The several operative parts of the machine are mounted upon standards, or frame- 

 work, of any convenient form or dimensions, and consist of travelling endless tapes to 

 conduct the paper over and under a series of guide-rollers ; of circular rotatory cutters 

 for the purpose of separating the web of paper into strips equal to the widths of the 

 intended sheets ; and of a saw-edged knife, which is made to slide horizontally, for 

 the purpose of separating the slips into such portions or lengths as shall bring them 

 to the dimensions of a sheet of paper. 



The end of the web of paper from the reel a, Jiff. 1587, is first conducted up an 

 inclined plane, b, by hand ; it is then taken_ hold of by endless tapes extended upon 

 rollers, as in Mr. Cowper's Printing-Machine. These endless tapes carry the web 

 of paper to the roller c, which is pressed against the roller d by weighted levers, 

 acting upon the plummer-blocks that its axle is mounted in. The second roller, d, 

 may be either of wood or metal, having several grooves formed round its periphery 

 for the purpose of receiving the edges of the circular cutters, c, mounted upon an 

 axle turning upon bearings in the standards or frame. 



In order to allow the web of paper to proceed smoothly between the two rollers, 

 c, d, a narrow rib of leather is placed round the edges of one or botli of these rollers, 

 for the purpose of leaving a free space between them, through which the paper may 

 pass without wrinkling. 



From the first roller, c. the endless tapes conduct the paper over the second, d. and 

 then under a pressing-roller, ./', in which progress the edges of tho circular knives, c, 

 revolving in the grooves of the second roller, d, cut the web of paper longitudinally 



