580 PIPERINE 



a solution of cream of tartar and tin. They are then dried, and passed into the 

 hands of the wrappers-up. The preparation for marking the paper is peculiar, and 

 is done by means of a moulded piece of wood, the moulds corresponding to those 

 portions which represent the small folds of paper through which the pins are passed, 

 and thereby held. The pins are then taken to the paperers, who are each seated 

 in front of a bench, to which is attached a horizontally-hinged piece of iron, the 

 edge of which is notched with a corresponding number of marks to the number 

 of pins to be stuck ; the small catch which holds together the two parts of the iron is 

 released, the paper introduced, and a pin inserted at every mark ; the paper is then 

 released, and 'the task of examination follows, which is the work of a moment. 

 The paper of pins is held so that the light strikes upon it : those defective are imme- 

 diately detected by tho shade, are taken out, and others substituted in their stead. An 

 ancient edict of Henry VIII. held that ' no one should sell any pins but such as were 

 double-headed, or the heads soldered fast on.' 



An improved pin has been introduced, in which iron or steel wires have been em- 

 ployed. The iron or steel wire employed should be very round, and, to protect it 

 from rust, it should, at the last drawing, be lubricated by means of a sponge saturated 

 with oil, placed between the draw-plate and reel. 



The following is the process adopted with these : The wire being cut into pins 

 and these headed and pointed, all according to the usual methods, the pins are thrown 

 into a revolving cylinder of wood containing a bath of soap-and-water in a hot state. 

 It is of the capacity of about 9 gallons, but should not contain more than about 

 1 gallon of water, with about 2 ounces of soap dissolved therein, as this quantity will 

 be sufficient for the treatment of about 13 Ibs. weight of pins at a time. The cylinder, 

 when thus charged, is made to revolve for about a quarter of an hour ; at the expira- 

 tion of which time the pins are found free from the oil with which they were pre- 

 viously coated, and also very much smoothed and polished by their rubbing one 

 against the other. 



The pins are next dried by transferring them to another cylinder partially filled 

 with well-dried sawdust (preferring for the purpose the sawdust of poplar wood), and 

 causing this cylinder to revolve for about ten minutes ; or, instead of employing a 

 cylinder of this description, the pins may be thrown into a bag or bags partially filled 

 with sawdust, and the requisite friction produced by swinging or rolling these 

 bags about for the same length of time. 



Into a glass or stone vase, there are put about l gallon of salt water, ^jths of a 

 pound of sulphuric acid, ^ Ib. of salt of tin, T ^ Ib. of crystallised sulphate of zinc, 

 and 100 grs. of pure sulphate of copper. This mixture is left to work for about 21 

 hours, so that the salts and sulphates may be properly dissolved. 



Tho mixture, prepared as directed, is introduced into another revolving cylinder, 

 and pins about 13^ Ibs. weight are thrown into the midst of it. The cylinder is then 

 caused to revolve for about half an hour, which serves at once to remove any verdigris 

 from the pins, to impart a high polish to them, and to give a beginning to the copper- 

 coating process. At the end of the half hour or thereabouts, 232 grs. of crystallised 

 sulphate of copper in coarse powder, and 150 grs. of crystallised sulphate of zinc, 

 previously dissolved in soft water, are added to the mixture in the cylinder, and 

 the whole again agitated for about a quarter of an hour. The pins are by this opera- 

 tion not only completely cpated, but acquire a very considerable degree of polish. The 

 copper liquors being drawn off, the pins are washed with cold water in the rotating 

 cylinder, and afterwards in a tub with soap-and-water out of contact with air, where 

 they are well shaken. The contents of the tub are then emptied into a wooden strainer, 

 having a perforated bottom of tin-plate iron. The pins are finally dried by agitation 

 with dry sawdust. 



7%e tinning and blanching are performed by laying the pins upon plates of very thin 

 tin placed one above another, in a tinned copper boiler containing a solution of about 

 if Ibs. of crude tartar or cream of tartar, in about 22 gallons of water, and then 

 setting the whole to boil for about 12 hours. The tartar solution should be prepared 

 at least 24 hours previously. A little more cream of tartar improves the brilliancy of 

 the pins. 



PINUS. See FINES. 



PIPECLAY. A hydrous silicate of alumina, found in Devonshire and some 

 other parts, used in the manufacture of tobacco-pipes. See CLAY. 



PIPERDINE. A volatile base, discovered by Anderson, by acting with potash 

 on the product of the action of nitric acid on piperine. It may also be procured by 

 treating piperine with potash. It has been chiefly studied by Cahours. 



PIPERINE is a crystalline principle extracted from black pepper, by means of 

 alcohol. It is colourless, has hardly any taste, fuses at 212 F. ; is insoluble in water, 

 but soluble in acetic acid, ether, and most readily in alcohol, 



