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threads of cotton which form the wick, and every foreign, 
substance, whether solid or fluid, which adheres to their 
fibres must necessarily prevent it. 
There is a considerable quantity of air which remains at¬ 
tached to the cotton after it has been dipped in the oil.—* 
This may be easily proved by placing the oil and wick in 
vacuo. There is also some moisture adhering to the wick, 
and the air and water are equally injurious in preventing 
the oil from flowing freely. 
If melted tallow be heated to a temperature considerably 
above that of boiling water, and into this boiling liquid a 
wick or wicks of cotton be thrown, the air and moisture 
will be expelled with considerable hissing, and the cotton 
by occupying their situation, will totally exclude them.— 
The wicks are scarcely soaked before the hissing ceases, 
and they may be left to dry and harden gradually. They 
are afterwards to be wrapped in paper to preserve them 
from dust. In this way they may be kept for years, and I 
have indeed burnt some that were made ten years since. 
The utility of making candle wicks in a similar manner must 
be evident. 
Acquainted from experience with the utility of this pro¬ 
cess, I am bold to recommend them, but I should observe 
at the same time, that great precaution is necessary in heat¬ 
ing the tallow. This substance when near the boiling point, 
is very apt to take fire and burns with great obstinacy. To 
guard against this accident, it is necessary to heat the tal¬ 
low in the open air. It ought to be placed in a large pan on 
a chaffing dish containing coals, since they burn without 
flame. 
The wicks may also be prepared by dipping them into 
melted wax, heated near the boiling point. They do not 
however burn better than those prepared with tallow. 
It is proper that the wicks, previous to the above opera¬ 
tion, should be well washed and dried, since dust and every 
kind of filth are injurious. 
