MADDER 353 



to orange may be produced*. Tin, iron, and alu- 

 minous bases, as well as other mordants, are used 

 for this purpose, dependent on the colour required. 

 It is a matter of doubt and speculation with chemists 

 whether these various colours are produced by the 

 combination of the colouring principle of madder with 

 the different mordants, by which a chemical change 

 takes place, or whether several colouring matters are 

 not really contained in the substance itself, and seve- 

 rally precipitated or retained by the varying action of 

 the different agents to which it may be subjected. It is, 

 however, certain that it contains at least two distinct 

 colouring matters, a fawn and a red, and that the 

 admixture of the former with the latter very much 

 injures its clearness and beauty. In consequence of 

 this, two kinds of red are obtained from madder. 

 The first is simply called madder red, which contains 

 the whole of the colouring matter. The other pos- 

 sesses far more lustre, and is much more valued; 

 it is called Turkey red, because first obtained from 

 the Levant. Its superior brilliancy is imparted in 

 consequence of the red colouring matter being alone 

 preserved ; and while the tint communicated excels 

 in brightness, it has the additional and great advan- 

 tage of extreme durability. 



The manner of producing this desirable effect was 

 for a long period of time a subject of much interest 

 and inquiry, the process used in Turkey being en- 

 veloped in mystery. The industry of the French 

 artisans was stimulated by the interest which their 

 government took in the discovery. Yet attempts at 

 imitating this beautiful dye were long fruitless, and 

 when at length they proved successful, this success 

 was limited to one or two dye-houses. It was only 

 by very slow degrees that it became more diffused, 

 and then each individual who acquired the know- 

 * Parkes' Chemical Essays. - 



2 H 3 



