WHITE LEAD. 205 
Great quantities of lead are consumed for the making 
of shot. For this purpose the metal is alloyed with 
arsenic (242), to render it more brittle ; and to render 
the grains more round and perfect than they otherwise 
would be. Shot is formed by dropping the melted 
alloy into water, through an iron or copper frame, per- 
forated with round holes, according to the size required. 
For the smallest shot the elevation is about ten feet 
above the water ; and for the largest about a hundred 
and fifty feet. 
An alloy of lead and tin, in the proportion of two 
parts of lead and one of tin, forms the solder which is 
used by plumbers. The types that are used by printers 
for very large characters are sometimes composed of 
an alloy of lead and copper. Lead is also used, with 
tin, in the manufacture of peiuter. 
Oxides of Lead. 
The different oxides (21) of lead are easily soluble in 
oil, and consequently are of great use to painters. Of 
these the following are the most important : 
White Lead, or Ceruse. This is made by suspending 
thin plates of lead over heated vinegar, in such manner 
that the vapour which rises from the acid may circulate 
about the plates. By this process the plates become at 
length entirely corroded, and converted into a heavy 
white powder. The manufacture of white lead is a 
most unhealthy trade, and is confined to a few persons, 
who have large conveniences for the purpose. This 
substance, when mixed with oil, is used as a paint for 
wood-work both of the outsides and insides of buildings. 
The fumes that are emitted from white paint are ex- 
tremely noxious. Persons who breathe them are fre- 
quently seized with pains, and experience symptoms not 
much unlike those that precede palsy; and the danger 
which attends the inhabiting of apartments recently 
painted is well known. The odour of vinegar will cor- 
rect the pernicious effect of these exhalations, by acting 
