1854.] 



COLOURING OF WOOL BY MUREXIDE.— RALLWAT INTELLIGENCE. 



17 



On tile Colonring or Wool by Miu-exidea 



Prout discovered the peculiar substance described by him under the 

 name of purpurate of ammonia, which was afterwards very fully 

 examined by Liebig and Wcihler and received from them the name of 

 murexide, from mures, a shell-fish, from which the celebrated SjTian 

 purple was supposed to have been obtained. This racst curious sub- 

 stance exhibits in an extraordinary degree, the property of dichroism, 

 being of a splendid garnet red by transmitted, and of a beautiful 

 iridescent green by reflected light ; its preparation, however, is some- 

 what complicated, being produced according to Gregory's process, by 

 the action of carbonate of ammonia on a mixture of alloxan and allox- 

 antine, two bodies resulting from the action of nitric acid, &c., upon 

 uric acid. 



No method of fixing this beautiful colour on textile fabrics has been 

 discovered, until lately the subject having engaged the attention of M. M. 

 Saco and Schlumberger, a process has been invented by which cloth 

 can be, dyed of a colour far surpassing that produced by cochineal. 



It was well known that the skin when moistened with a solution of 

 alloxan and exposed to the air, became purple, and M. Schlumberger 

 soaks the cloth in a solution of that substance, squeezes out the excess 

 of liquid by pressure between rollers, dries at a gentle temperature, 

 and after ageing for twenty-four hours, brings out the colour completely 

 by passing the cloth over a roller heated to 212° Falu'. 



The colour appears as if by magic, and is said to be far superior to 

 that produced by any preparation of cochineal, or by red dye-woods. — 

 The cloth previous to being put into the dye-beck must be mordanted 

 with weak tin salts, as unmordantcd cloth does not give so satisfactory 

 a result. It has also been found by JI. DoUfuss tbat the process of 

 ageing may be replaced by simple exposure to the vapors of ammonia. 



The colour cannot be applied to cotton and silk, but only to wool ; 

 it resists sun-light very strongly, but it is partially destroyed by boiling 

 water, especially if the cloth had been mordanted previous to the 

 application of the alloxan. It is alsO" destroyed by alkalies ; and, 

 hence, after a time by soap. Various shades can be produced by using 

 solutions of different degrees of strength. 



The price of the dye-stuff would exceed that of cochineal, but would 

 be much lowered if uric acid became an article of commerce, as this 

 substance can be readily obtained from pigeon's dung, guano, and the 

 excrement of all carnivorous birds. 



M. Schlumberger has indulged in some curious speculations relative 

 to the existence of this colouring matter ready formed in nature. M. 

 Sacc has found that poultry, and especially birds with a very brilliant 

 plumage such as the parroquets, do not produce sensible traces of the 

 uric acid during the moulting period, whilst the quantity is very large 

 when their feathers are fully developed. The question naturally 

 arises. What beomes of the uric acid ? May it not be transformed by 

 some as yet unknown metamorphosis in the animal body, into a sub- 

 stance like alloxan, capable of colouring the feathers ? From the 

 dichroism of murexide, above noticed, it is evident tliat this substance 

 is capable of producing all shades of colours which are made up of red, 

 blue and yellow. Hence, it is probable, that murexide is the cause of 

 the brilliant plumage in birds. Further, it is chiefly those animals 

 which have but one exit for their excrements, and who produce largo 

 quantities of uric acid, that exhibit a display of colours. Thus we 

 have the skin of the serpent ami lizard, the wings of butterflies, the 

 scales of fish, often coloured in the most gorgeous manner ; whilst the 

 skins of mammalia are generally dull, and without that metallic lustre 

 and iridescence so peculiar to the animals above mentioned. These 

 however are mere speculations. 



The ancients wore acqu.ainted with a process for dyeing wool of a fine 

 purple, which has been lost to our days; but, tradition tolls us, that 

 this beautiful tint was produced by pounding a quantity of small shell- 

 fish, and adding to the mass, either a quantity of urine in a state of 

 putrefaction or water in which some of the same shell-fish had been 

 allowed to putrefy. The cloth soaked in the liquid thus produced, 

 only developed the beautiful purple colour after long cxoosuro to the 

 air, and probably to heat. It scorns probable that the T/rian purple 

 was produced by murexide. 



s 



manufacture of Faniffine Irom BItiunluona SUalc. 



Immense quantities of black bituminous Shale exist in Upper Canada. 

 The Utica Slate and the Hamilton group are especially rich in Bitu- 

 men. The distribution of these rocks in Cpper Canada will be seen by 

 an inspection of the Geological Map which accompanies Mr. Logan's 

 admirable paper. We have before had occasion to refer to the atten- 

 tion with which the bituminous Shales of Canada have been distin- 

 guished. It will be some relief to those who have speculated vainly 

 upon their value as a combustible material to find that they may be 

 employed for the production of Paraffine. 



" The process of distilling bituminous Shale, first effected on a large 

 scale by Selligue, in France, is now carried on with great success by 

 Wiesmann & Co., at Beuel, near Bomi, on the Rhine. The parafline 

 is employed in the manufacture of candles, and has been found to 

 compete advantageously with wax and spermaceti, at CGj dollars (£10 

 5s. 4d.) the 100 lbs., or something more than 2s. per lb. The lightest 

 volatile oil obtained has a specific gravity of 0-730, and like the 

 bonzin of coal tar, is well adapted for cleaning clothes, gloves, fcc, 

 as a solvent for various resins, &c. It is also mixed with the denser 

 oils, and produces a mixture of a specific gravity of 0-830, which is 

 used as camphine in lamps. It is of a light straw colour, and is sold 

 in zinc jars, at the rate of 30 dollars (£-1 12s. 6d.) per 100 quarts, or 

 somewhat less than Is. per quart. The fixed oils are rendered drying, 

 and are employed for painting external wood-work, &c. It is also 

 occasionally bui-ned for the production of fine lamp-black for the 

 manufacture ef lithographic and letter-press printing ink. A quantity 

 of asphalte is also obtained, which is used for various purposes ; and a 

 greasy stuff, which is used for lubricating the axles, &c., of corves 

 and other waggons in mines, &c. Jhe success of this manufacture is 

 very encouraging for the promoters of the similar cne from turf, now 

 completed near Athy. — Pobjtechnisclies Ccnlralblatt. 



The Ontario) Simcoej and Huron RallroKcU 



The Report submitted by the Board of Directors to the Proprietors, 

 at their annual meeting, July 17th, 18-54, furnishes a very satisfactory 

 and encouraging account of the present operation of this important line 

 and its future prospects. This Report having already appeared, in er- 

 tenso, in various public journals, we shall confine ourselves to a brief 

 abstract of its contents : — 



The entire length of this line, from Toronto to CoUingwood Harbor, 

 Lake Huron, is 94 J miles ; G4J miles are now in permanent operation, 

 and served by the following way stations — 



"Way Stations Miles from Toronto. 



1. Davenport Road 5-1 



2. Weston 8-0 



3. York 11-8 



4. Thornhill 14-5 



5. Richmond Hill 18-5 



G. King 22-8 



7. Aurora 30-1 



8. iSewmarket 34-4 



Way Stations. Miles from Toronto. 



0. Holland Landing ... 38-1 



10. Bradford 41-7 



11. Scanlans 44-G 



12. Lefrov 62-0 



13. Bell Ewart (branch) 53-5 



14. Prntts 59-5 



15. Barrie C3-2 



The Company's steamer Morning makes the daily circuit of Lalco 

 Simcoc, and thus establishes a regular connection between Toronto and 

 the country- bordering a shore of nearly 150 miles. 



The northern division of the line, from Barrio to CoUingirood, 81} 

 miles in length, will be completed early in September. The Bolection 

 of CoUingwood Harbom- by the Chief Engineer has proved very judi- 

 cious, and the necessary works for the safety of shipping are in rapid 



progress. 



Lighthouses are already being constructed by the Oorommcnt for 



