314 Scientific Intelligence. 



dish brown. The lake of the chesnut is indeed a blue, and not 

 to be distinguished by the eye from indigo ; but when diffused 

 on paper, this same substance becomes an intense shining black. 

 In dying, little difference is observable between the chesnut 

 and galls, and sumach, except that the former has a rather 

 greater affinity for wool, &c. than the latter, and of course re- 

 quires less boiling. Its permanency has been completely 

 tested by long exposure to the sun and the weather ; but no 

 doubt can exist on this head, if the position of BerthoUet be 

 true, that permanent blacks are formed only by the combina- 

 tion of iron and tannin. 



To prepare the chesnut wood for the purposes of tanning, a 

 mode has been devised for reducing it to a suitable degree of 

 fineness. This method consists in the application of knives, 

 either in the direction of, or transversely to the grain, by a rota- 

 tory motion. This mode obviously involves the greatest possible 

 economy of moving power. Messrs. B. and M. Stebbins, of 

 West-Springfield, who are making arrangements for going large- 

 ly into the exportation of the article, have in construction a 

 machine upon this plan. 



As might be expected, the inspissated aqueous extract of the 

 chesnut, bears a near resemblance in many particulars, to ca- 

 techu. Professor Dewey, of William's College, who at my re- 

 quest, has gone through an extensive and elaborate course of 

 experiments, informed me that he obtained a quarter more of 

 the gelatinous precipitate from the former, than from the latter. 

 By the taste, the two substances are not to be distinguished, 

 except that the former is more pungent. It leaves upon the 

 tongue, the same permanent and refreshing sweetness, for 

 which the other is so much prized in the east ; where it is used 

 as an article of luxury, with betel nut. Might not the extract 

 be advantageously substituted for catechu, in the celebrated 

 life preserving composition of Dr. Pearson ; the object being 

 to concentrate the greatest possible quantity of nutritious and 

 tonic substances in the smallest weight. 



The colouring properties of the two substances, are entirely 

 different. After the discovery, twelve or fifteen years since, of 

 the composition of the terra japonica, attempts were made in 

 England to introduce it into the materia tingentia, as a substi- 



