552 
WORKING  IN  ALUMINUM. 
leave  them  exposed  to  its  influence  until  the  whole  of  the  soft  or 
pulpy  matters  are  decomposed.  The  period  required  for  this 
operation  varies  much  in  different  leaves,  &c.,  according  to  their 
texture ;  thus,  some  require  but  a  few  weeks,  others  as  many 
months.  When  the  pulpy  parts  are  completely  decomposed, 
the  next  operation  consists  in  their  removal  from  the  fibro-vas- 
cular  net-work  with  which  they  were  originally  connected.  This 
requires  much  care  and  patience.  There  are  two  ways  of  ac- 
complishing it ;  one,  which  consists  in  carefully  exposing  them 
to  a  stream  of  fresh  water,  using  at  the  same  time  a  brush ;  and 
the  other  by  simply  placing  them  in  fre^h  water,  and  removing 
with  care  the  decomposed  portion,  in  like  manner,  with  a  brush. 
Some  difficulty  will  be  found  at  first  in  doing  this  without,  at 
the  same  time,  breaking  the  fibro-vascular  net-work  ;  but  a  little 
practice  will  soon  render  it  easy  of  accomplishment.  The  adop- 
tion successively  of  simply  fresh  water,  and  a  stream  of  the 
same,  applied  by  means  of  a  syringe,  will  be  frequently  found 
desirable.  The  pulpy  portions  having  been  removed,  and  the 
fibro-vascular  net- work  obtained,  the  latter  must  be  then  bleached. 
For  this  purpose,  prepare  a  weak  solution  of  chloride  of  lime,  by 
adding  about  an  ounce  of  a  strong  solution  of  that  substance  to 
a  quart  of  distilled  water ;  then  soak  the  skeletons  in  this  solu- 
tion for  some  hours  ;  generally  three  or  four  will  suffice,  but 
when  they  are  very  thick  a  longer  period  will  be  necessary. 
After  this  operation  has  been  performed,  wash  the  skeletons 
thoroughly  in  pure  water,  and,  lastly,  dry  them  by  freely  ex- 
posing them  to  light  and  air. — London  Pharm.  Journ. 
WORKING  IN  ALUMINUM. 
We  extract  the  following  valuable  article  from  the  Ironmonger. 
The  information  is  obtained  from  Messrs.  Bell  and  Brothers, 
Newcastle-on-Tyne,  manufacturers  of  aluminum. 
The  peculiar  properties  of  this  substance  having  been  so  little 
understood,  has  hitherto  hindered  its  general  employment,  but 
now  that  it  is  sold  in  a  pure  state  at  as  low  a  rate  as  50s,  per 
pound  avoirdupois,  it  is  likely  to  be  much  more  frequently  used. 
Aluminum  is  a  metal  of  fine  white  color,  slightly  inclining  to 
blue,  especially  after  being  well  hammered  when  cold. 
