THE AU STEAL ASIAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACY. 
49 
follows, especially in filtration and in washing precipitates. Ordinarily speaking 
for analysis in the wet way as much as will lie on a threepenny piece is ample, 
but if a heavy or insoluble powder, much less is required. Lastly, time and 
temperature should not be overlooked, as they modify considerably the results 
obtained in qualitative analysis. 
(To be continued .) 
SHELLAC. 
By J. Bosisto, Examiner in Materia Medica at the College of Pharmacy . 
In the central province of India, especially in the thick jungles, the coccus lacca 
insect may be seen dwelling together in thick set groups on the branches and 
twigs of zizyphus jujuba, ficus religiosa, butea frondosa, besides other trees and 
shrubs belonging chiefly to the leguminosese order. Each insect incrusts itself over 
with a resinous substance, forming within a cell containing larvae and a deep colour- 
ing matter, the, dead body of the parent being itself the cell. Hundreds of these 
are piled together adhering to a twig, and in this condition it is termed stick-lac, 
and contains about 70 per cent, of resin, 10 per cent, of colouring matter, and the 
rest debris. 
The collecting of stick-lac and the making of shellac, button-lac, sheet-lac, 
and lac dye is an industry carried on by the Hindoos in the districts of the 
central provinces. In order to obtain the largest quantity both of resin and 
colouring matter, the stick-lac is collected before the larvse emerges from the 
•cells, else, with their flight, they carry away the greater part of the dye colouring. 
Since the advent of the aniline dyes, lac dye is but little in demand. The 
larv£e is allowed to mature, as it does not interfere with the quality or quantity of 
the resin portion. It is chiefly this circumstance that keeps down the price of 
shellac, there being, consequently, more insect workers than formerly. 
The process of dealing with stick-lac for the making of shellac and lac 
dye was witnessed by the writer when in India, and is as follows : — The first 
part of the process is to separate the lac from the twigs. This is done by 
two women — one turning and the other feeding a primitive-shaped, wooden mill. 
When a heap is formed (about a bushel in quantity), it is winnowed in a rustic- 
looking winnower, the lighter debris separating ; the remainder is then hand- 
picked. The process of grinding and winnowing is repeated until the whole 
is reduced to small, orange-coloured nodules. When in this condition it is 
termed seed-lac ; the bright, garnet-coloured pieces, being few in number, are 
now picked out and set aside for native ornaments. The seed-lac is then 
placed into a large earthenware pan, and with it some water. A woman steps 
into the pan, steadying herself against the mud wall with her hands, then 
turning violently to the right and left, in order to keep the lac in a continual 
state of motion against her feet and the sides of the pan for some, time, the 
other woman occasionally adding more water, until the vessel is full of a dark- 
coloured liquid. After settlement, the dye water is removed into another 
earthenware pan, and the lac again washed until the water runs away clear. 
Lac Lye. — The treatment of the coloured water for the purpose of obtaining 
from it the lac dye is very simple. After straining lime water is added, 
which precipitates the dye. The water is then drawn off, and the dye 
drained through cotton cloth; from this it is transferred to compressible frames, 
containing strong iron plates, and reduced by a native screw press to solid 
sheets of dark purple dye about a quarter of an inch thick ; these are cut 
