350 Infusorial Earth and its Uses, [July, 
cement, which is manufactured in Germany, and sold under 
the name of “ albolite.” 
In pottery the infusorial earth has received several im- 
portant applications. When fused, for example, with borate 
of lime, as such is obtainable in the trade under the name 
of borcnatrocalcite or tincalzite, an excellent glazing is pro- 
duced (“ Manufacturer and Builder ”), which is not only 
useful for furnaces and pottery of all kinds, but also for 
enamelling iron and slate, being free from lead and not apt 
to crack off. By fusing a mixture of infusorial earth (freed 
from sand) with borate of magnesia (stassfurtite), a kind of 
“ hot-cast porcelain ” is produced, having great durability 
and beauty. For this purpose the infusorial earth requires 
to be perfectly dry and free from lumps. It is introduced 
into the crucible in small portions and under constant 
stirring, until the fused stassfurtite ceases to take up more. 
The mass may be cast like glass, and if very liquid it may 
even be blown, and is thus fitted for an extensive appli- 
cation (ibid.). 
Boettger publishes the observation that when an alcoholic 
solution of any of the coal-tar colours is mixed with a suffi- 
cient quantity of infusorial earth, water added, and the 
mixture filtered, the liquid will run off clear, while the earth 
retains all the pigment. Hitherto the compounds of alumina 
have been used for the production of the so-called lakes, and 
it is quite probable that the above-noted behaviour of this 
material may find important applications in the arts. 
The use of infusorial earth has been suggested in glass- 
making as a substitute for sand ; but it appears not to be 
well suited for this purpose, the reason assigned being that 
it swells too much in the crucible. In the manufacture of 
soluble glass (water-glass), for which it has likewise been 
tried, the impurities it contains — clay, phosphate of lime, 
&c. — have been found to render it somewhat unsuitable. 
To conclude a sketch which has unwittingly taken 
considerable proportions, the following enumeration will 
suffice to show that the subject is by no means exhausted : 
- — A compound called diatite, devised by Merrick, consists 
of gum-lac and infusorial earth. The siliceous earth has 
been added to sealing-wax to prevent its running; it is 
sometimes added to paper to give it body ; and to soap for 
the same purpose, and to add to its detergent qualities (?) ; 
and it is said to form an excellent addition to rubber, for 
certain uses of the latter; its addition to modelling clay is 
said to prevent it from cracking in moulding ; and lastly, 
