BLEACHING COTTON. 129 



oils of every defcription, but particularly fifh oil. The cot- 

 ton is foaked in this oil for 24 hours, after having again boiled 

 it for two hours; it is then run and fufpended in the air for 

 iome days, in order that the oil may be well feparated, and it 

 is entirely deprived of the oil by a ftrong hot ley with fubfe- 

 quent warning and drying. For this effect a ley of two thirds 

 allies and one third lime may be ufed, with the fame quantity 

 of fheeps dung as of both the before-mentioned ingredients. 

 The cotton is not only boiled in this mixture, but it is alfo 

 applied feverai fucceffive times; the goods being wafbed in 

 clear water between each Iixiviation. The cotton thread may 

 alfo be walhedin water containing a fufficient quantity of pot- 

 aih to render it greafy to the feel. The thread is to be boiled 

 for twelve hours in this ley, or till the fluid becomes black. 

 Laftly, the thread is warned and fteeped in water acidulated 

 with weakly fulphuric acid, it is to be taken out of this fluid 

 after remaining in it at leaft an hour, and then wafhed and 

 dried. 



If this method of bleaching were once generally known, 

 it would not be neceflary to purchafe the article of the bleacher, 

 or to fend cotton to them to be bleached. In order to afcer- 

 tain whether cotton bleached in any manner whatever is per- 

 fectly deprived of its refin, and proper to receive the dye, the 

 glafs is to be filled with water, and a thread of the cotton 

 placed on the edge of the glafs, fo that half its length fhall be 

 within and half without. If the former end finks in the water 

 and the whole thread ads as a fyphon, by caufing it to run 

 over, it will be a proof that the cotton will have the requifite 

 purity. 



The cotton thus purified mull pafs through three mordants : Red dye fos 

 1. A decodion of nut-galls. 2. A folution of tin; and 3, C0tt0IW * 

 alum water. 



For the decoction of nut-gall. For lib. of cotton or linen 

 thread. For the former half a pound of the dark coloured 

 nut-gall, or for the latter lib. is taken. The nut-gall is grofsly 

 pounded and boiled with a handful of birch leaves in a copper 

 boiler, with two and half pots of rain water tiil reduced to 

 one half. The liquid being left to fettle and poured while yet 

 hot through a cloth on the cotton, this is fuffered to fieep for 

 24- hours, frequently working or preffing, in order that it may 

 be univerfally penetrated with the galling principle. It is then 



Vol. -X.— February, 1805. K taken 



