HOW WAX IS OBTAINED. 227 



etc., is well known. The house-wives of this and 

 other countries employ it to prevent bed ticks from 

 losing their feathers ; they spread the ticking on a 

 table and well rub its inner surface with a lump of 

 wax ; to spread it equally, and to cause it to enter 

 into the tissue of the fabric, it is polished by a vigor- 

 ous friction with a ball of solid glass or the bottom of 

 a bottle. 



According to Buffon, the bees-wax of tropical cli- 

 mates is too soft for any but medicinal purposes. 

 Bevan gives the following 



ANALYSIS OF WAX. 



Carbon 81,79. 



Oxygen 5,54. 



Hydrogen 12,67. 



HOW WAX IS OBTAINED. 



The bees-wax of commerce is obtained by melting 

 such combs as are only fit for that purpose. This is 

 done after the honey has been drained from them ; 

 the usual method is as follows : 



Have ready a vessel of a size suited to the quantity 

 of comb to be rendered ; place it over a slow fire ; 

 fill it about one-third full of water; as soon as it 

 reaches the boiling point, drop in the combs arid press 

 them down, and as they melt, stir the mass till it is 

 thoroughly melted ; a follower, to fit inside of the 

 boiling vessel, is made by fastening a wire screen to 

 a ring or hoop ; this is to be placed on the top of the 



