32 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



The Secretary. — I liave seen lianl soap made in tlic following way : 

 "Take 25 pounds of tallow and two quarts of tdive oil — put lliis in your 

 boiler and set it over the fire until the talluw is melted, then add 10 pounds 

 of caustic soda ley, strength 32 per cent., stir with a wooden si)atula; the 

 heat must now be increased and the mixture kept constajitly stirred to pre- 

 vent it adhering to the bottom and sides of the boil<-r; at the end of three 

 or four hours the mixture assumes a whitish appearance, as, by continuing 

 the heat, the aquc(tus part is entirely evaporated and the mass reduced to 

 a perfectly dry state. The heat is now increased, and in a short time the 

 mass becomes again of a li<|nid form and changes to a brownish color, which 

 indicates that the combination of the fat vrith the alkali is effected. The 

 boiler is then lifted off the fire, but the stirring is continued so long as any 

 danger of scorching is ajiprehcnded. The second part of the operation 

 consists in breaking up the product whicli is now in a solid form. To this 

 add one gallon of pure water and thoroughly agitate the mixture for half 

 an hour. The boiler is then set on the fire and the contents raised to the 

 boiling point and kept so for about three hours, during which time the stir- 

 ing and agitation must be continued. So soon as the evap(nation has beeu 

 carried to the desired extent and the soap appears of a proper consistency, 

 it is allowed to cool grudnally. The whole contents of the boiler, while yet 

 in a liquid state, arc now put into the ordinary frames and left to cool. 

 The da}' following the contents of the frame will be found hard enough for 

 cutting." 



Mr. H. T. Babbitt, New York, furnishes the following receii)t: "Take 

 one pound of concentrated potash dissolved in 12 quarts of water in a kettle 

 calculated to make the soap, a<ld to the ley 5 pounds of grease, and boil 

 slow until it becomes soap, which will take from one to five hours. Aild 

 water to the kettle as it boils down; keep about the same (jiiantily in the 

 kettle until it becomes soap. Then add 3 ounces of common salt and boil 

 10 minutes, which will separate the water frcjm the soap. If rosin is 

 wanted, melt that in a separate kettle; add ley t > it until it becomes thick, 

 which will take about one quart to a pound of rosin. Then add the rosin 

 t() the boiling soap before the salt is added. The salt causes the soaj) to 

 separate from the water and rise upon the top. AVhen cold it can Ik; tak(>n 

 off or dipped into molds while hot. The above hard soap may be perfumed 

 just before it is cool. It will be understood that when the ley is loo strong 

 it will not mak(j soap, therefore if the kettle, while boiling, is not kept with 

 about the same (juantity, the ley would b(»il down too strong before the 

 ioap is made." 



A lady correspondent furnishes the following: " This is my receipt, an<l 

 is easier than the one given: Take two pails of soft soap, add a pint bowl 

 half full of salt; bring it to a bfiil, and let it stand till cold; cut up and 

 put itito a ketth.-; add half a pound (tf soda-ash or sal soda and four ounces 

 quick-lime, pn;viously slaked with two ipiarts of boiling water and setthid 

 clear; drain off the; clear water into the soajt; Ijoil all together till tin; soda 

 is dissolvi'd, and then cool a litth; and turn into shalhjw boxes; when cold, 

 cut into bars and tlry in the sun." 



Mr. Solon Robinson. — This is doubtless a good process. So is that given 

 by Mr. Babbitt. 



