34^ Dr. Parry's Essay on the Nature, Produce, Origin, 



Accordingly we find, from an imperfect analysis of this substance by Vauqiielin, 

 published in the Annales de Chymie for the year 1 1 (1803), that it contains a laroe 

 proportion of fatty matter united with pot-ash, so as to form a natural soap ; a 

 smaller portion of pot-asTi combined partly with carbonic, partly with acetous, and 

 partly with muriatic acid ; a little lime in a state of unknown combination; a sm.ill 

 quantity of uncombined fatty substance; and a little animal matter, which seems 

 to produce the peculiar waxy smell. The yolk is probably formed from the per- 

 spiration of the animal ; and a knowledge of its component parts has given 

 Vauquelin occasion to draw some important conclusions, and to suggest some 

 specious hints. 



The greatest loss in freeing the wool from this yolk and all its other impurities, 

 according to that author, is only from 35 to 45 per cent. But then he mentions that 

 the specimens which he washed were very dry ; and it is probable, also, that he selected 

 only the finest parts of the fleece, which did not require much picking or rejection; 

 whereas the coarser parts are loaded with various kinds of ordure, which, as they 

 are not mentioned by Vauquelin, could net have existed in his specimens. I find, 

 on more accurate examination, the same thing to be true with regard to the Anglo- 

 Spanish wool mentioned in my former publication,* in which. I speak of it as only 

 losing five-sixteenths, by reduction to the state of wool of commerce. The loss in 

 scouring and picking the whole fleece to absolute cleanness, is fully equal to that 

 which I have before stated. 



The wool of the Merino sheep differs from that of all our breeds, in being of 

 nearly an equal degree of fineness on the shoulder and on the rump. It grows 

 more thickly on the latter than on the former. 



The whole fleece is remarkably free from those white, opake, and coarser hairs, 

 called by the French, iarre, and by us, kemps, stitchel hairs, or cat's hairs. Those 

 which here and there occur among Merino wool, are cxt'remely short, and easily 

 drop out during the processes of manufacture, so as not to injure the fabric. 



The wool of the Merino lambs, in general, is evidently coarser and harder than 

 that of the sheep. It seems, however, that different flocks vary in this respect. 

 The lambs of tlie Infantado and Paular races are covered with a coarse sort of 

 Jiair, which afterwards changes into very fine wool. The same appearance is soma^ 

 times to be found among the lambs of the Negrelte breed in England. 



* Facts and Observations, page 46. 



