256 NEW TECHNOLOGICAL WORKS. 



period will be necessary. After this operation has been performed, wash 

 the skeletons thoroughly in pure water ; and, lastly, dry them by freely ex- 

 posing them to light and air. 



Mr C Muratore of Algiers, has sought to utilise the Pislacia lentiscvs, 

 which is found in abundance growing spontaneously in Africa. To this 

 end he takes the leaves and fruit of this tree, and boils them in water, filters 

 the liquor, and precipitates it by a solution of salts of iron. He has 

 obtained also a deep blue liquor, which communicates, in its boiling state, 

 to yarn and to tissues a handsome black colour, comparable to that 

 obtained with the blacks from logwood, gall-nuts, &c. The decoction 

 of the leaves and fruit dyes objects black, which are plunged into a 

 solution of iron. To facilitate transport, this colouring matter is reduced 

 to powder, and the powder, mixed with oil, can be used for painting. 

 Other colours may be obtained by combining different salts or acids. Iron 

 gives a yellowish colour ; lead, white ; copper, brown ; mercury, yellow. 

 The stalks and branches of the tree furnish also this colouring matter, but 

 not in such quantity as the leaves and fruit. 



Burning Fluids. — Many persons suppose that camphene is an explo- 

 sive burning fluid, but this is a mistake. Camphene is simply rectified 

 spirits of turpentine. Its vapour, mixed with a certain portion of air, is, 

 no doubt, explosive, but not the fluid. The common burning fluids, known 

 by the name of phosgene, &c., which burn with a clear flame, emit but little 

 smoke, and are so cleanly to use in lamps, are composed of alcohol and 

 turpentine. "Were it not that this hydro-carbon compound fluid is so 

 volatile, so liable to assume the gaseous state, become saturated with the 

 oxygen of the atmosphere, and thereby rendered dangerously explosive, 

 it would be preferred to all other fluids for artificial illumination. But 

 dangerous though it is, and notwithstanding the great number of accidents 

 which have taken place from its use, it goes on superseding all kinds of 

 oils with astonishing rapidity. 



NEW TECHNOLOGICAL WORKS. 

 Wallace on the Deposition of Lead Ore in Veins. 8vo, 25s., cloth. 



Hand-Book op Mineral Oil Manufacture (In German). By Dr 

 Theodor Oppler, Berlin. 



Metallurgy : the Art of Extracting Metals from their Ores, 

 and Adapting them to Various Purposes of Manufacture. 

 By John Percy, M.D., F.R.S., 8vo, 21s. Murray. 



Practical Aids to the Study of Natural History, Botany, 

 Geology, Mineralogy, and Technology. By Dr Carl Arendts. 

 Translated and edited by Dr Strauss. With 400 illustrations, 5s. 

 Ward & Lock. 



The Popular Science Review. No. 2. 2s. 6d. R. Hardwicke. 



