SCIENCE. 
257 
Moldavian. 
Urpeth. 
Utah. 
Mala^uti. Schrotter. 
Johnson. 
Newberry. 
Carbon 
85.7s 
86.20 
86.80 
86.15 
Hydrogen 
■ 15-15 
13*77 
14.06 
1375 
IOC. 00 
99-97 
100.86 
99.90 
It is supposed to be a compound oi several members 
of the paraffine series, which are represented by the 
general formula C„ H 2n + >, and perhaps containing cer- 
tain of the olefines C„ H., n , a very tull description of the 
chemical co nposition of a nodule ot ozocerite found at 
Kinghornness, Scotland, was given in a paper read by 
W. Ivison Macadam, at the Sheffiell meeting of the 
Brit.sh Association,* last year. 
Process of Manufacture. The crude mineral 
(ozocerite) is melted with water in order to remove any 
sand or other earthy impurities with which it is likely to 
be mixed. It is then run into cakes weighing about two 
pounds each. Another authority states that crude 
hydrocarbon is first melted and drawn off ; the residue 
boiled with water, to the surface of which any remaining 
ozocerite rises ; the whole allowed to stand for several 
hours for any suspended impurities to settle out. The 
melted wax which was drawn off is poured into moulds, 
which hold from 100 to 120 pounds. These cakes are 
then shipped to the various factories in England, Mol- : 
davia and Vienna, where it is purified and converted into 
illuminating oils and paiaffine. A portion of it is directly 
treated on the island of Swatoi Astrow, in the Caspian 
Sea, near the Peninsula of Apscheron. There it is dis- 
tilled in flat bottomed iron retorts provided with leaden 
worms, each of these retorts holding from 1,500 to 2,000 
pounds. 
Sixty-eight per cent, of distillate is obtained, sixty parts 
of which are paraffine and eighty parts oil. According 
to Grabowsky, the products of such a working may be 
tabulated as : 
Benzine 2 to 8 per cent. 
Naptha 15 to 20 “ “ 
Paraffine 36 to 50 “ “ 
Heavy lubricating oils 15 to 20 u 
Coke 10 to 20 “ “ 
The oil thus obtained is yellow, opalescent, possesses 
an ethereal odor, and has a density varying between 0.75 
and 0.81. Each distillate yields a quantity of a light 
oil boiling below ioo°, which is used for purifying the 
paraffine, as will be shown further on. The crude paraffine 
thus obtained from the first distillation is yellow in 
color and tolerably pure. It is treated by the hydraulic 
press and the expressed oil redistilled in order to obtain 
any remaining paraffine. The pressed paraffine is mel ed 
and treated at from 170° to 180 3 with five per cent, of 
sulphuric acid, washed, neutralized with lime, and then 
rapidly distilled, then cast in plaques and again pressed. 
The cakes thus obtained are treated with twenty-five per 
cent, ot the 1 ght oil and again melted and pressed ; 
finally, they are treated with steam for the purpose of 
ehminat ng the last traces ot essential oil. The material 
resulting from this treatment is a perfectly pure and 
colorless substance, free from all odor, transparent, and 
so hard as to exhibit in large blocks an almost metallic 
sound. 
An improved method of bleaching ceresine, paraffine, 
petroleum, stearine and other fatty matters has been 
patented in Germany within a few months. The pro- 
cess consists in heating ozocerite to i7o°-2oo ) C. About 
twenty per cent, of the hydroxides of aluminium, iron, 
manganese and magnesium or the silicates of aluminium 
and magnesium are added to the molten mass. The 
treatment is repeated several times with the clear liquid, 
whicn separa es up an standing. The residues are then 1 
treated with steam to remove c-resine and to restore the 
hydroxides. 
TEXTILE FABRICS OF THE ANCIENT INHAB- 
ITANTS OF THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.* 
By [udge J. G. Henderson. 
He showed that the modern Indians and these ancient 
people are bound together bva similarity in the instruments 
and processes of spinning and weaving. The materials 
used were the bark of various trees, the nettle, and the hair 
of the bear, buffalo, deer and dog. In working up the 
vegetable substances, the bark was first macerated. After 
being dried, it was spun in a multitude of ways. The 
rudest process was rolling on the thigh. The next step 
was a rude spindle which passed through various processes 
of evolution to the modern spinning-wheel. The speaker 
then proceeded to show the gradation of elaboration 
through which the loom has passed into the process of 
weaving. Tudge Henderson's paper was illustrated by a 
series of drawings, collection of raw materials, and models 
of spindles and looms. 
OCCURRENCE OF TIN AT WINSLOW, ME* 
By Professor C. H. Hitchcock. 
After exhibiting specimens of the ore, etc., which is or- 
dinary tin-stone, and is associated with margarite, fluveite, 
beryl and arsenical pyrites, Professor Hitchcock observed 
that there are twelve veins of this ore, in twent}' feet of 
rock, their geological relations being identical with those 
of the tin veins of Cornwall. A bar of tin weighing four- 
teen ounces was also shown ; it is the largest bar ever made 
in this country. Professor Hitchcock considers this locality 
the most promising tin-bearing locality yet discovered in the 
United States. 
MICROSCOPY. 
At a meeting of the State Microscopical Society of Illi- 
nois. held at Chicago, on the Sth ultimo, a new Microscope 
stand was exhibited by Mr. W. H. Bullock, specially 
designed for lithological work. 
“The stage was made to rotate concentrically on the 
same plan adopted in his large instruments, and was grad- 
uated to read with a vernier to minutes. Both the minor 
and sub-stage were mounted on graduated circles, and ar- 
ranged so as to swing over the stage, e ther separately or in 
unison. The sub-stage was made in two cylindrical fittings. 
The lower one carrying the polarizing prism, could be 
readily swung to one side, while the upper carried the 
achromatic condenser. The polarizing prism was mounted 
with a circle graduated to degrees, and was fitted with a 
stop for marking the position of the prism. The analyzer 
was mounted above the objective, somewhat after the man- 
ner of a Wenham prism, and could be slid in and out of 
position with the same facility, and also carried, if desired, 
a quartz film. It was, he said, a matter of great conven- 
ience for the lithologist to be able to pass from the use of 
ordinary to that of polarized light, without loss of time, and 
with the instrument on exhibition, this change could be 
effected in less lime than a change of objectives with a 
double nose piece. The stand was also provided with a 
goniometer eye-piece, which was fitted with a calc film and 
and analyzing prism, both separable at pleasure.” 
The instrument, as above described, appears to be well 
adapted for the end in view, but we would remind Mr. Bul- 
lock that Swift, of London, has arranged the polarizing prism 
and the analyzer in equally convenient positions for instant 
use ; the former he attached to his patent condenser, under 
the stage, while the analyzer was fitted exactly as Mr. Bul- 
lock described. Such instruments have been made for 
upwards often years, and have been used in this country. 
Mr. Beck, of London, who was present, must have been 
quite familiar with the instrument we have described. We 
have always found the arrangement to work admirably, and 
are surprised that makers do not generally adopt the system 
in all Microscopes. 
♦See Chemical News , vol. XI., p. 148. 
♦ Read before the A. A. A. S., Boston, 1880. 
