2^4 Z)r. FvOXBURGh’s Account of 
His procefs is as follows. Let fome powdered gum lac be 
digefted two hours in a deco&ion of comfrey root* by which, a 
fine crimfon colour is given to the water* and the gum is ren- 
dered pale or ftraw coloured* To- this tincture, poured off 
clear, let a folution of alum be added ; and when the colouring 
matter has fubfided, let it be feparated from the clear liquor 
and dried ; it will weigh about one fifth of the quantity of 
lac employed. This dried fecula is. to be difloived or diffufed 
in warm water ; and fome folution of tin is to be added to it, 
by which it acquires, a vivid fcarlet colour. This liquor is to 
be added, to a folution of tartar in boiling water ; and thus th& 
dye is prepared. 
In India comfrey roots are not to be had ; but any other muci- 
laginous root, gum, or bark, would probably anfwer equally 
well. On fome parts on the Coromandel coaft, it not over it 
all, a decoftion of the feeds of a very common plant (Caliia. 
tora of Linnaeus),. which is exceedingly mucilaginous, i? 
nfed by the dyers of cotton cloth blue, to help to prepare the 
blue vat. It fufpends the indigo till a fermentation takes place 
to diflfolve it, and alfo helps to bring about that fermentation 
earlier than it other-wife would. The gum lac (or rather 
refin) itfelf is known, to be perfe&ly foluble in fpirits. of wine. 
The empty hulks which covered the pupa are alfo foluble in 
fpirits, but without a very large proportion of the fpirits is 
n fed, it foon becomes thick, like a jelly. Four grains com- 
municated that quality to three drams of rectified fpirits of 
wine. This jelly is very difficult of folution in fpirits ; a 
month has not effe&ed it in a heat of from 80 to 90 degrees 
of Fahrenheit's feale. The fubftance of which thefe hulks 
are compofed, is an exudation from the larvae themfelves, 
which becomes hard by expofure to the air. The cells feem 
tO/ 
