78 
Soap of Wool. 
It has been ascertained, by trials in the large way, 
made by Michael Fabriguette, with soap of this kind, 
which lie prepared according to my instructions, that 
such soap scours the cloths, felts them, and softens them, 
perfectly well; but there are some observations to be 
made, respecting its use, which are too important to be 
omitted. 
First, when this soap is not prepared with sufficient 
care, or when it is made with dirty or coloured wool, it 
is apt to give the cloths, &e. a greyish tinge, which it is 
very difficult to remove. If the cloth is intended to be. 
dyed, this tinge is of no consequence ; but it would in- 
jure that tine white colour, which, in certain cases, is in- 
tended to be given, or to be preserved. This tinge, how- 
ever, may be prevented, by a very careful selection of the 
materials for making the soap which is meant to be em- 
ployed for such delicate purposes. 
Cloths, &c. fulled with this soap, acquire, as was said 
before, an animal smell, which, without being very strong, 
is nevertheless unpleasant ; but, water and air never fail 
to remove it. 
Having succeeded in fulling woollen cloths by the use 
of this soap, I attempted to use soda, in the place of pot- 
ash, and thus to form (according to the process above 
described) a hard soap, fit for the operations of dyeing 
cottons ; and my experiments succeeded beyond my ex- 
pectations. 
Forty-six pounds of soda ley (of eight degrees) dis- 
solved, in a boiling heat, five pounds of wool ; and afford- 
ed, when cold, sixteen pounds fourteen ounces of soap, 
sufficiently hard to keep its form. 
The first quantities of wool thrown into the soda ley 
are easily dissolved ; but it may be observed, that the li- 
quor gradually grows thicker, and that the dissolution 
becomes more difficult and slower. 
Vol. II. 
K 
