VARIETIES. 
167 
invention,  straw  of  any  fibrous  vegetable  substances,  such  as  wheat,  barley, 
oats,  rye,  and  other  similar  straws,  are  cut  into  short  lengths  by  means  of 
any  suitable  cutting  machine.  When  these  straws  have  any  knots,  it  is 
necessary  to  open  out  and  divide  the  same,  which  is  effected  by  passing  the 
straw  through  a  pair  of  millstones,  or  between  crushing  rollers;  or  they  may 
be  submitted  to  the  action  of  any  other  equivalent  apparatus,  so  that  the 
knots  and  fibres  may  be  thoroughly  and  effectually  separated  and  divided. 
In  some  cases,  either  hot  or  cold  water,  or  other  liquid  is  applied  to  the 
materials  under  operation,  in  order  to  facilitate  this  process.  The  cut  and 
divided  straw  is  then  boiled  in  a  strong  alkaline  lye,  or  solution  of  caustic 
alkali,  such  as  soda,  potash,  &c,  until  a  pulpy  mass  is  produced — which 
effect  will,  however,  greatly  depend  on  the  nature  of  the  straw  operated  on, 
and  the  strength  of  the  alkaline  lye  or  solution  which  is  employed.  The 
mass  is  then  transferred  to  the  machine  known  in  the  paper-making  trade 
as  the  rag-engine,  where  it  is  reduced  to  pulp  in  the  manner  usually  prac- 
tised when  when  operating  on  rags,  &c,  in  the  manufacture  of  paper.  The 
pulp  is  then  partially  dried,  in  which  state  it  may  be  pressed  or  rolled  into 
sheets,  or  moulded  into  other  forms.  These  sheets  or  moulded  articles  are 
then  dipped  into  oleaginous  or  glutinous  matter  or  oil,  and  are  afterwards 
baked  in  an  oven  similar  to  that  employed  when  manufacturing  sheets  or 
moulded  articles  of  papier-mache. — Sealed  October  12,  1852. —  Chcm.  Gaz., 
Nov.  1853. 
On  Lcevo-camphoric  Acid  and  Camphor  with  a  Rotatory  Power  to  the  Left. 
By  J.  Chautard. — The  author  has  obtained  from  Matricaria  Parthenium  a 
camphor  which  deviates  the  plane  of  polarization  to  the  left,  whilst  the  cam 
phor  of  the  Laurineoz  deviates  it  to  the  right. 
By  treating  this  camphor  with  nitric  acid  in  the  way  indicated  for  the 
conversion  of  common  camphor  into  camphoric  acid,  anew  acid  was  obtained, 
which  deviates  the  plane  of  polarization  to  the  left  exactly  to  the  same  ex- 
tent that  ordinary  camphoric  acid  deviates  it  to  the  right,  and  standing  to 
the  latter  in  exactly  the  same  position  as  lsevo. tartaric  acid  to  dextro-tartarie 
acid. 
These  two  acids  exhibit  the  most  complete  identity  in  their  physical 
properties.  If  lsevo  and  dextro-camphoric  acids  be  mixed  in  equal  quanti- 
ties, they  combine  immediately,  furnishing  a  new  acid  completely  distinct 
from  its  own  components,  and  entirely  without  action  on  polarized  light. 
This  may  consequently  be  called  racemo-camphoric  acid. 
The  camphor  of  the  Matricaria  has  the  same  solubility,  the  same  points 
of  fusion  and  volatilization,  and  the  same  power  of  rotation  as  the  camphor 
of  the  Laurineo3. — Chem.  Gaz.,  Dec.  1853,  from  Comptes  Rendus,  August  1, 
1853,  p.  166. 
Oil  of  Pumpkin-seeds  for  Tape-worm. — Dr.  H.  S.  Patterson,  of  Philadel- 
phia, recommends,  in  the  Oct.  number  of  the.  Medical  Examiner,  the  oil  of 
