ME. ABEL'S EESEAECHES ON GTJN-COTTON. 



283 



digestion the contents of the bottle were agitated slightly, a small portion of the gun- 

 cotton was removed and placed as a plug in the apex of a funnel, through which the 

 liquid was filtered into an evaporating dish. The gun-cotton was then transferred to a 

 suitable instrument, placed over the funnel, and the liquid expressed ; it was afterwards 

 returned to the bottle, in which it was digested for a second (and sometimes a third) 

 similar period with fresh solvent, the washings of the funnel, &c. being returned to the 

 bottle. When the gun-cotton had been two or three times digested and expressed, it 

 was washed upon the funnel. The liquid thus obtained never contained more than two 

 or three minute fibres of the gun-cotton ; it was generally of a very pale straw colour, 

 and slightly opalescent. When evaporated nearly to dryness it became gelatinous, and 

 gradually dried to a yellowish substance of somewhat resinous appearance. 



The folloAving results were obtained in this manner, a difiierent sample being operated 



upon in each instance : — 



Description of gTin- 

 cotton. 



Coarse yam 

 Fine yarn 

 Coarse yam 

 Fine yarn 

 Coarse yarn 



Made in 1863. 



)5 55 



Made in 1864. 



Made in 1865. 



Fine yam 



Coarse yam 



Percentage of soluble 

 matter. 



. 1-70 



. 1-33 



. 1-91 



. 1-53 



. 2-00 



. 2-60 



. 1-81 



. 2-12 



. 2-31 



. 1-99 



. 2-35 



. 2-25 



. 1-83 



. 2-34 



. 1-62 



. 2-30 



. 2-22 



. 1-9S 



. 2-21 



. 2-22 



Mean average of matter soluble in alcohol and ether, from results of 

 examination of twenty samples of ordinary products of manufacture 



at Waltham Abbey 2-03 per cent. 



Extreme results obtained =1-3 and 2 "6 „ 



Soluble matter in gun-cotton prepared by twenty-four hours' treatment 



with acids 1-99 



