Textile Fabris. 485 
lescent is concerned, it is noble work to strive to remove 
the difficulty, and a great step in this direction will have 
been made when homes for convalescents shall come to be 
regarded as fully deserving of support as the numerous 
other charities which are the glory of our land. © 
It is strongly urged upon all readers of the few remarks 
we have ventured to offer upon the subject of convalescence 
to do their utmost to advance the cause both by practice 
and by precept, to lose no opportunity of pressing 
upon the notice of the rich and charitable its peculiar 
claims, and we, on our side, pledge ourselves to visit 
institutions of the kind when established to keep our sub- 
scribers az courant with their working and their usefulness, 
and we promise further to take note of healthy localities 
where convalescent hospitals might with advantage be 
established, and endeavour to influence the inhabitants of 
such places to raise buildings which will redound to their 
own honour, prove mighty engines for restoring health to 
body and mind, and at the same time, as all true Samaritan 
work must do, promote the cause of Christianity. 
[Our pages will always be open to suggestions from any 
quarter on this most important subject.] 
AN INQUIRY INTO VEGETABLE FIBRES 
AN ALLABLE-FOR TEXTILE FABRICS. 
BY H. SHERWOOD. 
(Continued from page 430.) 
AVING noticed the use of alkalis in treating vege- 
table fibres, we come now to consider the action of 
various inorganic acids when employed for the same use. 
Doubtless, this class of agents was suggested by the sup- 
posed need for something strong; for the stereotyped 
“strong things” in the hands of unreasoning manufacturers 
ate “vitriol” and “spirits of salt,’ except occasionally, 
his ideas may soar to the telling climax of “aquafortis.” 
These acids, apart from their catalytic action, or their power 
of appropriating the elements of water, exercise a powerful 
influence on substances easily formed into new combina- 
tions with agents of high combining power. The greater 
RR 
