INK FOR THE MILLION. 
317 
who says : 1 1 have for some time endeavored to find a black fluid possess- 
ing the properties of forming no deposit, of adhering strongly to the paper, 
of being unaffected by acids, and lastly, what is of great importance, not 
acted upon by steel pens. 
£ After many experiments, I have succeeded in obtaining a composition 
of the kind required, very simple in its preparation, containing nothing but 
logwood, chromate of potash and water, and free from vinegar, gum, cop- 
peras, blue vitriol, and even nutgalls. The low price of this writing fluid 
is also in its favor. It is prepared by simply adding one part of chromate 
of potash to 1000 parts of decoction of logwood, made by boiling twenty- 
two pounds of logwood in a sufficient quantity of water to give fourteen 
gallons of decoction ; to this decoction, when cold, the chrome salt" is gra- 
dually added, and the mixture well stirred. The addition of gum is inju- 
rious. In the preparation of this ink, it must be remembered that the 
yellow chromate and not the bi-chromate of potash is employed, and great 
care is required to ensure the due adjustment of the relative proportions of 
the ingredients used. The best way is to make a decoction of logwood, and 
gradually add to it, well stirring the mixture, as much solution of chromate 
as will give the shade required. 
< It appears astonishing what a small quantity of the chrome salt is re- 
quired to convert a large quantity of decoction of logwood into a black 
writing fluid ; the fact is, however, certain, and care must be taken not to 
allow the proportion of chrome salt to exceed half a part for each 500 parts 
of decoction of logwood, as a larger quantity exercises a prejudicial effect 
in destroying the coloring matter of the liquid, whilst in the proportion 
above mentioned, a deep blue black writing ink is formed, which, unlike 
the ink made with tannogallate of iron, is perfectly fluid, forming no de- 
posit. This writing fluid possesses another advantage ; the paper which 
has been written upon with it may be washed with a sponge, or be left 
twenty-four hours under water, without the writing being effaced. Weak 
acids do not destroy the writing, nor do they even change the shade, while 
that made with gall-nuts is effaced, and the ink prepared with logwood and 
copperas is turned red. 
« New steel pens are coated with a greasy substance, which prevents the 
ready flow of the ink ; this should, therefore, be removed previous to use 
by moistening the pens with saliva, and then washing them in water. The 
application of an alkaline solution is still preferable to effect the removal 
of this greasy matter. This cleansing of the steel pens is absolutely essen- 
tial in the case of using the ink above mentioned. I have used this ink 
upwards of two years, and my steel pens are not in the least degree 
affected. No rust is formed on the pens, so that after years of service the 
only wear experienced is that from constant use on the paper, thus render- 
ing unnecessary the use of pens tipped with iridium and other hard 
substances/ ;; 
28 
