XYLOL 



Exports of Wool in 1874. 



WOOTZ, is the Indian name for Steel. The Indian wootz is prepared in very 

 rude furnaces, in a most primitive manner, from haematite and magnetic iron ore ; 

 charcoal being the fuel employed. See STEEL. 



WORMWOOD (Artemesia Absinthia). An intensely bitter herb, used medici- 

 nally ; and it is said to be sometimes employed as a substitute for hops, in brewing 

 inferior kinds of beer. 



WORSTED. Yarns made of long wool drawn out into long filaments by passing 

 it, when oiled, through heated combs, as described under WOOLLEN MANUFACTURE. 

 Numerous machines have been introduced for combing wool, and may now be said to 

 have entirely superseded the old fashion of hand-combing. 



X 



XAWTHIKTE, the name given by Kuhlmann to the yellow dyeing-matter of 

 madder. See MADDER. The name has also been applied to an animal product. 



XANTKORRIKEA. Several species of this genus of LiliacecB are known in 

 Australia as ' grass trees.' They yield ' Botany-Bay resin ' and ' Black-boy gum.' 



XYIOIDIWE Nitramidine. By acting on starch with fuming nitric acid, a 

 transparent jelly is formed, and on adding water, xyloi'dine is precipitated as a white 

 granular substance. 



This name has been given to some preparations of collodion which have been pre- 

 pared by acting on some variety of woody fibre with nitric acid, until it became sus- 

 ceptible of solution in sulphuric ether. Many photographers are of opinion that 

 collodion thus prepared is in many respects superior to that obtained by dissolving 

 gun-cotton in ether. Our own experience does not enable us to pronounce on this, 

 but we have heard some very intelligent operators express a very opposite opinion. 

 Chemically the collodions will be the same, but it is possible that there may be a 

 physical difference, and few, except those who have had much experience in the 

 changes produced by light on chemical compounds, can form any correct idea of the 

 differences in actinic power of producing change in bodies physically different, though 

 chemically the same. Xyloi'dine, or rather sawdust treated with a mixture of nitric 

 acid and sulphuric acid, until rendered explosive, has been proposed for use in blasting 

 rocks. Another modified form of the same kind of blasting powder has been made 

 by saturating deal sawdust with nitrate of potash, and then mixing the preparation 

 with some sulphur and yellow prussiate of potash. Neither of these explosive powders 

 has, however, come into use. They are dangerous, as being liable to spontaneous 

 combustion. See COLLODION ; GUN-COTTON. 



XYIiOIi. A hydrocarbon found in coal-naphtha and in the oils which separata 

 when crude wood-spirit is mixed with water. 



VOL. III. 



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