444 
ON THE MANUFACTURE OF GLAUBER’S SALTS. 
The foregoing register shows the tempera- 
ture of the atmosphere in the cuddy of the 
Experiment flat, which is in the after part of 
the vessel, and has a thin deck ; above which 
was a canvas awning. 'J’he temperature on 
deck was in general from 2 to 3 degrees high- 
er than in the cabins. 
There were 34 men undone woman (mili- 
tary detachment) onboard, who were accom- 
modated in the centre of the vessel, in a room 
28 feet long, by 17 feet broad, and 4^ feet 
high, across which were 2 large beams which 
reduced the cubic space for each man o 5G 
cubic feet. This space receives air and light 
by 12 hatchways, of which eight were always 
open ; there are no side ports or other means 
of ventilation, except the hatchways, and one 
port, which influences ventilation indirectly, 
i. e. through the non-commissioned officers’ 
room. Mr. Knight considers the space and 
ventilation insufficient for the number of men 
who were embarked. It is less than in line of 
battle ships on the lower deck, when the men 
are all in their hammocks, as there are then es- 
timated 120 cubic feet for each man ; and at 
sea, one watcb being always on deck.butleav- 
ing their hammocks below, the space for each 
man would be double. However the detach- 
ment enjoyed good health, there being but few 
acute diseases, and those were readily cured. 
REGARDING I HE MANUFACTURE 
OF GLAUBER’S SALTS. 
1 . In conformity with the instructions of 
the board, as contained in their letter to you 
under date 4th November, 1830, 1 have the 
honor to report to you that 800 lbs. of the 
Glauber Salts have been manufactured at this 
Dep 6 t, to meet present demands. 
2 . In connection with this subject, I pro- 
ceed to lay before you the following details, 
in the collection of which no efforts have been 
spared to render them as accurate, and I 
trust as comprehensive, as the Board might 
wish. In the analytical part, I consider 
myself much indebted to Dr. Campbell, of 
the firm of Bathgate and Co., for the able 
assistance he has rendered me. 
3 . The salts are prepared from a mineral 
earth, known by the name of Khare Muttie ; 
Khare being the Arabic word for Alkali, and 
Muttie, the Sanscrit word for earth. 
4 . The only use made of it by the natives of 
Oude, as far as I can ascertain, is as a con- 
diment ; they give it to their sheep, mixed 
in the food, but to no other animal. It is 
supposed to have the effect of fining the 
fleece. 
5 . The face of the country whence it is 
brought is flat, and intersected by deep 
ravines. It abounds in the neighbourhood 
of Onaoo, a town about 10 miles from the 
banks of the river Ganges, and is brought to 
me in hard striated masses, mixed with sand. 
6 . In rendering the salt free from impuri- 
ties. little difficulty is experienced. The pro- 
cess adopted by the natives in this part of 
India is both easy and simple. It consists in 
boiling the Khare Muttie in little more than 
its weight of water, the whites of eggs havi^ 
been previously beaten up and mixed with it, 
until a pellicle forms. It is then allowed to 
stand for about half an hour, that the impu- 
rities may subside ; after which, the superna- 
tant liquor is set aside to crystallize. This 
process is repeated to free the crystals from 
any remaining impurities, and the salt is then 
laid apart for use. 
7. Two pounds of earth, treated in this 
manner, yield one pound of pure Glauber 
Salts. A specimen of the salt, in its natural 
and manufactured states, 1 have the honour 
to transmit to you. 
8 . A series of analytical experiments were 
continued for seven days, and from the results 
which have been obtained, 200 parts of Onaoo 
earth were found to consist of, 
Dried Sulphate of Soda 145. 90 
Dried Muriate of Soda, 6. 10 
Alumina, 25. 0 
Oxyde or Carbonate of Iron. . . 1. 5 
Siliceous Earth, 9 . 0 
Trace of Lime, 1 . 0 
Loss 11 . 5 
200. 0 
9 . The regret I should have felt at not 
being able to state from my personal obser- 
vation, the capabilities of the different dis- 
tricts in the dominions of Oude, to furnish a 
supply to meet any demands the Board might 
be pleased to determine on, has been removed 
by the circumstance of you yourself, having 
had satisfactory proof during your recent 
tour of Hospital Inspection through that 
country. 
10. I'he expence incurred in the manu- 
facture of 800 lbs. has been as follows : 
1000 lb. of Khare earth, with carriage * o 
hire, ® 
40 maunds of fire-wood, with coolie 1 
hire, eggs, and earthen pans v ^ 
150 
or 3 annas per pound avoirdupois. 
11. In searching for information regarding 
the existence of sulphate of soda, in a natural 
state, when first entering into the present 
inquiry, I was disappointed at finding only a 
short paragraph devoted to this article, in 
the Materia Indica. lately published by Mr. 
Ainslie. of the Madras Medical Service. It 
is to this effect, “ that Dr. F. Hamilton, in 
his MSS. account of the district of Furneah, 
alludes to a coarse kind of Glauber Salt 
being brought from Patna, and called Khare 
Neerauck but, adds Mr. Ainslie in a note : 
“ It is to be presumed, that it is a very im- 
pure sort.” Dr. Hamilton does not say 
whether it is prepared at Patna, or found 
native, which it often is in combination 
with oxyde of iron, and muriate and 
carbonate of soda, and sometimes efflores- 
ced on the surface of the soil, as in Hun- 
gary, and with this he dismisses the sub- 
ject. I perceive Dr. Ure mentions thal 
large quantities of it exist under the surface 
of the earth in Persia, Bohemia, and Swit- 
zerland. 
Dr. Campbell states, that the Khare Mut- 
tie exists in large quantities, and it is so 
rich as to yield by the common process of 
purification and crystallization full 60 per 
cent, offine sulphate of soda. 
