24 



[In the organic matter.] 



DISCUSSION OF THE DATA. 



It is evident from the foregoing analyses of limestones that, with few 

 exceptions, the quality of stone used was exceedingly poor. The impor- 

 tance of good stone is at once evident, since bad stone is liable to "hang 

 up" in the furnace, give a poor quality of lime for the defecation, and a 

 weak gas for the carbouatations. 



The quality of the gas employed during the season was fairly good. 

 At first, by feeding too much coke with the limestone, large quantities 

 of carbonic oxide were produced. The carbonic dioxide formed at the 

 bottom of the furnace was reduced to CO by the white-hot coke above. 

 After the laborers learned the proper manipulation of the kiln no fur- 

 ther trouble was experienced from this cause. The carbonic oxide was 

 always accompanied by a peculiarly unpleasant odor, and made the la- 

 borers about the carbonatation pans dizzy and ill. One of them fainted 

 from the effects of the gas on the day it contained the largest quantity 

 of carbonic oxide. 



The percentage of CO 2 in the gas from time to time during the manu- 

 facturing season is shown by the following analyses : 



It is seen that when the men had learned the proper use of the furnace 

 the percentage of CO 2 was kept pretty constantly above 20. The an- 



