112 
THE  PARIS  EXPOSITION. 
acid  gas  are  evolved,  which  if  let  loose  in  the  atmosphere  would  blast 
the  vegetation  for  miles  around.  To  avoid  this,  the  gas  is  fixed  by  pas- 
sing it  up  a  tall  column  of  charcoal  contained  in  stone  towers,  which  is 
kept  constantly  dripping  with  water  descending  from  above,  and  is  re- 
ceived below  as  liquid  muriatic  acid,  nearly  of  commercial  strength.  This 
acid  would  soon  be  as  great  an  inconvenience  to  the  fish  as  the  gas  is  to 
vegetation,  were  it  not  utilized  ;  hence  arose  the  chlorinated  lime  manu- 
facture— the  muriatic  acid  afi'ordinj>  an  eligible  source  of  chlorine  when 
treated  with  oxide  of  manganese,  which  gas  is  then  conducted  into  the 
extensive  brick  chambers  in  which  the  dry  hydrated  lime  is  pladed  on 
hurdles  until  the  earth  becomes  saturated,  becoming  hypochlorite  of 
lime  and  chloride  of  calcium.  The  atmosphere  of  the  building  in  which 
these  chambers  were  contained  was  so  charged  with  chlorine  and  muriatic 
vapors  as  to  be  nearly  insupportable  to  us,  compelling  a  hasty  retreat 
and  nearly  causing  a  spasm  of  the  glottis,  yet  the  operatives,  engaged  in 
various  duties,  did  not  appear  to  be  inconvenienced,  so  kindly  have  our 
constitutions  been  moulded  to  our  circumstances.  The  cost  of  the  man- 
ganese in  such  immense  quantities  is  great,  hence  has  arisen  a  process  pat- 
ented by  this  firm  whereby  it  is  regenerated,  which  is  conducted  in  an  im- 
mense revolving  cylinder.  The  still  liquor,  consisting  of  chloride  of  man- 
ganese and  muriatic  acid,  is  first  neutralized  with  lime,  then  an  equivalent 
of  lime  added,  which  soon  precipitates  the  protoxide  of  manganese  and 
becomes  chloride  of  calcium.  On  the  subsidence  of  the  oxide  the 
chloride  of  calcium  liquid  is  drawn  off  and  the  bioxide  of  manganese  re- 
generated by  passing  air  through  the  apparatus,  when  it  is  ready  for  use, 
and  much  more  active  than  the  original  native  oxide,  yielding  twice  as 
much  chlorine  with  muriatic  acid.  Thus  it  is  that  the  price  of  these  im- 
portant products  is  kept  at  a  minimum  by  the  wonderful  economy  now 
introduced  into  the  soda  process  by  using  the  bye  products  and  recovering 
the  manganese.  We  believe  in  some  establishments,  if  not  in  this,  the 
sulphide  of  lime  in  the  alkali  wastes  after  lixiviation  is  utilized  by  re  - 
covering  the  sulphur  to  be  re  used  in  making  sulphuric  acid,  leaving  only 
the  unavoidable  waste  of  sulphur  and  manganese  to  be  provided  for  be- 
sides the  coal,  lime  and  salt,  which  are  very  cheap. 
Another  very  important  auxiliary  manufacture  is  that  of  soap,  the 
alkali  for  which  is  used  whilst  yet  liquid,  thus  saving  much  labor. 
Within  the  same  extensive  works  they  produce,  by  the  aid  of  the  cooper 
and  carpenter,  the  vast  quantities  of  casks  and  boxes  needed  to  send 
their  products  into  commerce. 
But  to  return  to  the  Exposition  ;  druggists  and  sundry  men  were  rep- 
resented by  the  old  and  extensive  house  of  Burgoyne,  Burbidge  & 
Squire,  of  Coleman  Street,  London,  who  presented  a  large  display  of 
pharmaceuticals  and  chemicals,  generally  of  good  quality.  They  claim 
to  be  manufacturers  of  chemical  preparations  and  of  essential  and  fixed 
oils,  and  articles  representing  these  lines  were  exhibited.    A  very  fine 
