4 MR. TOPPANS NEW PROCESS 



sired, the additional and disagreeable operation of sulphuring 

 becomes necessary. 



Mr. Toppan's method of scouring involves the use of two 

 preparations : first, the compound ; and second, the anti-com- 

 pound, or as it has been termed, the S liquor. The compound 

 is made from petroleum products, and is closely allied to the 

 cotton bleach. This is a perfect solvent for the oil and fatty 

 matter, and softens and disengages the dirt. The S liquor 

 is a solvent for the compound and washes it out of the wool. 

 A simple wash in cold water completes the process, which does 

 not vary much from that in use to-day. 



The scouring of wool (differing from the bleaching of cot- 

 ton) is the first step in its manufacture, and in his work the 

 scourer must have consideration for the succeeding operations. 

 The better the condition of the wool for spinning, weaving, 

 dyeing, the more successful the scour. 



Mr. Toppan's scour is of such nature, that the succeeding 

 processes in manufacture are prepared for in a remarkable 

 degree. 



We will consider first the process itself, then the advan- 

 tages in the after-processes. 



In the regular course of work at one of our woolen mills, I 

 noted some time since a series of scours at about twenty min- 

 utes to the scour. This was said to be quick work, and the 

 operator said that the stock (Cal. spring clip) was needed at 

 once. The scour was, even to the inexperienced eye, some- 

 what imperfect. It was evident that the process had not been 

 carried far enough to fully cleanse the wool, and sticking as it 

 did to the squeeze rolls, it gave evidence of the presence of 

 oil and gum. 



The usual time for scouring is, I am informed, not far 

 from half an hour, varying of course with the nature of the 

 wool. With heat, and with strong alkali, the process may be 

 shortened in point of time, but attempts to economize in this 

 way are dangerous. 



This I can illustrate experimentally, and the experiment is 

 of interest to housekeepers, as well as to wool men. It 

 is one of the first points which should be appreciated by 

 wool scourers. I am rather loath to believe the statement 

 which I have- clipped from a trade paper : 



"It is a fact not generally appreciated by wool washers, 

 that wool can be dissolved until nothing is left visible. Hot 

 water alone will not do this, wool may be boiled without being 

 dissolved ; but put a little caustic potash, or anything of simi- 

 lar nature, into the water, even if it be far from boiling, and 



