CASEIN 227 



adding sufl&cient Venetian-red paint powder (cost, 3 cents 

 per pound) to give a good color. Any other paint powder 

 of a different color can be used as well. This should be 

 stirred thoroughly. The only objection to this is that the 

 milk will not hold the cement in suspension on account of 

 the great weight of the cement. It has to be thoroughly 

 stirred all the time during its use. 



About six hours after applying, the coat of paint will be 

 dry, and it is not affected by water. The authors have 

 used this paint with satisfaction. It seems to petrify the 

 surface of the wood, which is evidently the reason why it 

 is so preservative in its effect. 



If water is used instead of milk, the paint will not adhere 

 so well to the wood. 



The paint when mixed with a little extra cement is a 

 good substance for painting trees which have been injured. 

 When painted on the bottom of the trimk of trees, it pro- 

 tects against rabbits gnawing them. 



Plastic Masses from Casein.^ — " Like all substances 

 possessing strong adhesive properties, casein is specially 

 adapted for the preparation of plastic masses, which can 

 be molded, either in a mixture with organic substances 

 like sawdust, wood meal, paper, etc., or alone in the form 

 of paste or a more or less dry powder, and set hard when 

 dry. Casein mixed with lime or other alkaline material 

 can be converted, by the addition of a little water, into a 

 plastic mass which, though very gradually, dries in the air 

 to a transparent mass as hard as bone, and can be stained 

 any color. In this condition it can be turned in the lathe 

 or worked with any other cutting tool. When plastic casein 

 is mixed with other substances, such as organic or finely 

 powdered inorganic materials, the resulting masses are 

 endowed with the property of drying quickly, especially 

 under the influence of warmth. Care must, however, be 



'Robt. Scherer. — Casein, Its Preparation and Utilization. 



