142       Soap  Manufacture  and  the  Soap  of  Commerce.    {AVaX'  lm* 
uble  in  a  strong  solution  of  caustic,  and  the  particles  of  fat  would, 
by  the  use  of  a  strong  lye,  become  encased  in  an  insoluble  layer  of 
soap,  which  would  prevent  further  action  from  taking  place.  The  lye 
is  added  in  until  an  excess  of  caustic  is  found  in  the  pan.  More  oil 
or  fat,  or,  where  required,  rosin  is  then  added,  and  the  fat  or  rosin 
saturated  by  subsequent  additions  of  lye.  When  the  operator,  by 
examining  the  texture  of  the  soap,  considers  the  reaction  complete,  the 
watery  solution  of  soap  and  glycerin  is  decomposed  by  the  addition  of 
salt,  in  a  solution  of  which  soap  is  insoluble.  The  soap  then  rises  to 
the  surface  in  a  finely  divided  state,  and  after  complete  separation  the 
spent  lye  is  removed.  After  the  removal  of  the  lye  the  soap  is  again 
heated,  and,  if  necessary,  some  weak  lye  added,  so  that  the  soap  may 
assume  a  "close"  texture,  as  it  is  called.  When  this  is  complete  the 
soap  is  removed,  usually  by  pumping,  to  another  vessel,  where  it  is 
"  crutched."  This  consists  essentially  in  stirring  the  mass  by  rotating 
arms  moved  by  machinery,  by  which  means  the  soap  is  brought  into 
condition,  and  if  of  too  great  consistency  more  water  is  added.  It  is 
now  ready  for  the  frames,  composed  of  slabs  of  wood  or  iron  placed 
together  in  a  rectangular  form,  and  made  in  such  a  manner  that  when 
the  soap  has  solidified  the  sides  may  be  removed.  The  soap  is  left  in 
the  frames  until  it  is  completely  set.  When  this  has  occurred,  the 
block  is  taken  out  and  cut  into  slabs  by  means  of  a  wire  pulled  through 
it  in  a  horizontal  direction.  The  slabs  thus  formed  are  placed  upon  a 
table  with  a  movable  arm,  across  which  wires  are  stretched,  and  the 
slabs  are  by  this  means  again  divided  into  bars.  It  is  then,  if  it  be  a 
pure  soap,  ready  for  packing.  Sometimes,  however,  it  is  desired  to 
make  up  the  soap  in  tablets  of  given  weight.  It  is  then  cut  up  into 
pieces  of  the  requisite  weight  and  stamped  in  a  press  with  dyes,  the 
presses  usually  being  worked  by  hand. 
This,  then,  is  a  brief  outline  of  the  manufacture  of  a  genuine  soap; 
but  the  exigencies  of  the  case  render  it  necessary  to  produce  a  variety 
of  soaps,  at  cheap  prices.  This  has  been  brought  about  by  competi- 
tion and  the  inability  of  the  public  to  discriminate  between  a  well-made 
and  a  common  soap,  and  consequently  it  is  impossible  for  any  firm 
manufacturing  only  pure  soaps  of  high  quality  to  hold  its  place  in  the 
struggle  for  existence.  The  cheaper  soaps,  being  more  readily  soluble 
in  water,  produce  a  lather  more  quickly  than  a  pure  soap,  and  as  the 
public  does  not  as  a  rule  make  comparative  trials  as  to  the  lasting 
powers,  and  is  almost  invariably  led  away  by  a  cheap  article,  the  sale 
