252 A HISTORY OF THE SODA MANUFACTURE. 



hydro-chloric acid gas ; and bo long as the extent of manufacture "was 

 comparatively small, the inconvenience arising from this was "borne by 

 the neighbouring public; but when this noxious gas was evolved from 

 Mr. Muspratt's chimneys in torrents beyond endurance, the Corporation 

 of Liverpool instituted proceedings, by indictment, to suppress the 

 nuisance, which resulted in Mr Muspratt being compelled to remove 

 his works from the town of Liverpool to Newton. This caused the 

 attention of practical men to be directed to the provision of means by 

 which the hydro-chloric acid could be condensed, and obtained in a form 

 to be commercially useful. The difficulty of this arose chiefly from the 

 immense volumes of gaseous 'matter evolved. The old apparatus of 

 cylinders and Wolfe's bottles were totally inadequate to the purpose. 

 Many plans were suggested, and, amongst others, I devised certain 

 means for effecting this object, for which I obtained a patent in the year 

 1836. Having demonstrated the practicability of effecting a complete 

 condensation of hydro-chloric acid, by the erection and working of a 

 complete set of apparatus at the soda works with which I was then con- 

 nected, I introduced the plan to the trade, and it has been subsecpiently 

 adopted by every manufacturer of soda in the Kingdom. 



The principle of this invention consists in causing the acid gas to 

 percolate through a deep bed of coke in small lumps, contained in a high 

 tower, at the same time that a supply of water flows very slowly over 

 the surface of the pieces of coke. By these means an almost unlimited 

 extent of moistened surface may be presented to the gas (the currents 

 of which are being continually changed in their direction) for effecting 

 its absorption ; and as the same fluid descends through the tower, it 

 meets with more gas, and gradually becomes charged to saturation ; 

 whilst at the upper portion of the tower, any gas, which might other- 

 wise escape, is exposed to the absorbing power of unacidulated water. 

 When this apparatus is used judiciously, a -perfect condensation of the 

 hydro-chloric acid gas can be effected. This has been proved satisfac- 

 torily at the works of Messrs. Crosfield Brothers and Company, at St. 

 Helens, where the acting partner Mr. Shanks, my friend and former 

 pupil (who was the first after myself, to adopt my invention), has 

 effected such complete condensation of the gas proceeding from the de- 

 composition of 25 tons of salt per diem, that, the escaping gases passing 

 from the apparatus being caused to bubble through solution of nitrate 

 of silver, contained in a set of Liebig's bulbs, not the slightest turbidness 

 was produced, although the same solution was retained in the apparatus, 

 and used for many trials. By these means was removed one great obsta- 

 cle to the development of the soda manufacture ; and although my re- 

 ward for this has been the reverse of a pecuniary benefit, it is highly 

 satisfactory to know that all the soda manufacturers are reaping great 

 advantages from my labours. 



In the year 1838, a curious episode occurred iu rhe soda manufacture, 



