426 Vegetable Fibres Available jor 
credit of our manufacturers, their processes in this art have 
been largely drawn from guesses, rather than from prin- 
ciples reasoned out to results, certain and infallible as the 
principles from which they emanate. When the means are 
nostrums, we may expect “cure-alls”:—They have “vitriol” 
and “ soda-ash,” and “spirits of salt.’"—-These did every- 
thing from time immemorial, what more can be needed! 
But if not effective, mix them all together! This idea of 
“strong things” appears to pervade the whole system of 
fibre treatment, and is patented to nausea, each actor ring- 
ing an insignificant change, untenable as the previous one. 
Whilst confessing the extreme difficulty of the subject, 
let us examine the general character of the substances to 
be treated, and the action on them of the chief means em- 
ployed. Fibres vary much in minor details of composition. 
All possess a foundation of ligneous fibre, composed. of 
short cells, agglutined together by various vegetable matters 
which are chiefly in chemical union with mineral substances. 
Much of the vegetable matter is soluble in water or easily 
removed by it. This needs not to be inquired into. A 
large proportion is insoluble in water, and needs to have 
the various combinations broken up to form soluble com- 
pounds. The latter class is probably to a large extent, or- 
ganic substances acting the rvd/e of acids in union with 
alkalis, alkaline earths, and alkalofds. Some of these, 
largely present in one fibre, will be found replaced in 
another by a more or less dissimilar body acting the same 
part. We find generally present, albumen, casein, pectin, 
resins, gums; all either forming salts with alkaline bases, 
or being chemically combined with some other salt present. 
These other salts may be sulphates, muriates, or phosphates. 
We have also generally present, starch or glucose, and pos- 
sibly some substances analogous to caoutchouc. The cel- 
lulin is the only portion of the fibre desired to be retained, 
which should have all its strength, whiteness, and brilliance 
preserved intact. It is commonly supposed, that a sub- 
stance termed lignin does exist as the flesh, whilst cellulin 
is the skeleton of the fibre. Allowing it to be so, it must 
naturally be of the greatest importance and account in the 
treatment of fibres. Its presence may account to a large 
extent for the difference of hardness observed in fibres. It 
must vary in a very minute degree in composition from the 
cellulin which accompanies it, and from being so nearly 
akin, must naturally be difficult to remove without con- 
siderably injuring the cellulin. 
