Textile Fabrics. 429 
cised on a woven fabric, where the fibres lie in opposite 
directions, would tend in every direction to draw the cloth 
closer. This argument is therefore, only available for the 
opposite conclusion than that which is sought to be estab- 
lished. If the coat be regarded as insoluble silica, it can- 
not resist long action of alkalis aided by heat, spread over 
so considerable a surface. If the action of the free alkali be 
masked by carbonic acid, the salt is soon broken up by the 
vegetable acids present. It therefore follows, that the coat 
must be entirely removed by the action of alkalis. At 
best, the use of these agents is the acceptance of known 
injury to the substance sought to be produced with its full 
natural qualities, because with it is given the power of re- 
moving extraneous matter, which otherwise, the operator 
imagines he would not have. 
We must, however, view the action of alkalis in conjunc- 
tion with subsequent parts of the processes generally em- 
ployed. Here, fats, or acid soaps are brought to bear upon 
the fibres. The fatty acids may be supposed to take up 
the bases precipitated from their compounds by the 
substitution of the alkalis, and to form with these bases 
soaps, soluble only, and with difficulty, in excess of soap. 
They are known to possess a considerable solvent power 
over resins, and as solvents of resinous particles present in 
the fibres, exercise a less hurtful influence than most of 
others which could be employed. But it seems very doubt- 
ful, whether the supposed amount of resin or gum to solve 
which fats might be employed, does really exist in fibres 
generally, except in a very minute quantity. New Zealand 
flax is,perhaps, the only textile fibre where it is otherwise. 
It is true, that many characteristics are observable in 
fibres, especially under the action of soaps with heat, which 
seem to point to resins: but, as resins are chiefly found in 
connection with colouring matter, and are probably removed 
in exact proportion to the removal of colouring matter :— 
and as fibres may become as white as they can become, 
without the aid of artificial bleaching, whilst the quantity 
of this so called resinous, or gummy matter, is not dimi- 
nished, there is at least, occasion to doubt whether the 
observed characteristics be not those of bodies little known, 
exhibiting similar appearances under similar circumstances : 
—viz., insoluble colloid bodies in union with some base, 
or with cellulin in a gelatinous state. Fatty acids may also 
break up some insoluble salts by substitution for other acids 
present, and may be thus used with advantage. Soap may be 
