324 farmers' and mechanics' JOURNAli 



but on a very limited scale. This is cither owing to the diflerence 

 in quality of the intestines, or Sonne other unknown cause. What- 

 ever it be, we are still tributary to Naples for this article ; and 

 every exertion ought to be made to free us from this necessity. 

 Experiments, made with skill, will no doubt succeed ; and the So- 

 ciety for the Kncourai^ement of National industry, by calling the 

 attention of artists to titis subject, will have the glory of contribut- 

 ing )o the perfection of an art, of which little is at present known. 



The cleaning and scraping of the intestines for this purpose, to 

 free them from the fat, must be done with much more care than is 

 requisite for other^ords ; and, when they have undergone that 

 process, they must be steeped in an alkaline lye, prepared as fol- 

 lows : — 



An earthern pan, holding six quails, is filled with water, and 

 three pounds of potash are added to it ; \vliich uujst be well stirred, 

 and sutfered to subside. In a similar vessel, full of water, placed 

 by the side of it, are put five pounds of pearlash ; leaving that also 

 to settle. If it be wished to make use of this solution within a 

 short time, it will be necessary to add to it a httic alum-water, 

 which will clarify it quickly. 



The scraped intestines are now put into earthen pans, so as 

 about to half-fill them. The pans are then filled up with the solu- 

 tion of potash, with as much water added as to double the quantity 

 of iluid. This liquid is changed twice a day, increasing its strength 

 each time, by adding more of the soluion of pearlash, and dimin- 

 ishing progressively the quantity of water ; so that the last solu- 

 tions be the strongest. The intestines gradually become whiter, 

 and begin to swell. After having sulfered them to macerate from 

 three to five days, or more, according to the state of the atmos- 

 phere, the operation proceeds as follows : — 



Every time that the alkaline solution is changed, the pans arc 

 placed upon the box called the refresher^ placed on a table, or on 

 tressels, in a slanting direction, so as to facilitate the running otT" of 

 the water. This box must be large enough to hold the frame on 

 which the cords are to be stretched. The intestines are scraped 

 with the edge of a copper cube, held in the left hand. The fore- 

 finger of the left hand is placed near to the edge of the copper 

 cube ; whilst, wnth the right hand, each intestine is drawn over the 

 edge of the disk or cube, and between the fore-finger. 



When they have all been treated in this manner, and placed in 

 n fresh pan, a stronger alkaline solution is poured on to them than 

 that from which they were last taken, as we have before mention- 

 ed. This operation is necessary for cleansing the intestine of its 

 greasy quality, and bringing the cords to perfection. 



As soon as it is perceived that the inreslines begin to swell, and 

 some little bubbles appear on their surface, (for in this state they 

 fise in the water,) it is necessary to twist them immediately, or they 

 will begin to shrivel ; which sometimes happens, particularly in 

 iummei', and occasions the loss of the intestines, and also the time 

 spent over them. In hot weather, the inteatinefi are, indeed, most 



