PHOSPHORUS  AND  MATCH  MANUFACTURES. 
153 
phosphoric  acid,  which  attracts  moisture.  One  of  their  mixtures, 
given  by  Bottger,  is  composed  as  follows ; — 
Phosphorus  . 
4 
parts 
Nitrate  of  potash  . 
10 
u 
Fine  glue 
6 
it 
Red  ochre 
5 
u 
Smalt 
2 
a 
In  every  case  the  glue  is  first  broken  into  small  pieces  and 
soaked  in  cold  water  until  quite  soft,  then  added  to  the  requisite 
quantity  of  water  and  heat  applied  by  means  of  a  water-bath 
until  it  is  quite  fluid,  and  at  a  temperature  of  200°  to  212v  F. 
The  vessel  is  then  removed  from  the  fire,  the  phosphorus  gradu- 
ally added,  and  the  mixture  agitated  briskly  and  continually 
with  a  stirrer,  having  wooden  pegs  or  bristles  projecting  at  its 
lower  end.  The  chlorate  of  potash,  coloring,  and  other  matters, 
all  in  a  state  of  very  fine  powder,  are  then  added,  one  at  a 
time,  to  prevent  risk  of  accident,  and  the  stirring  continued 
until  the  mixture  is  comparatively  cool.  By  this  means  the 
minute  particles  of  phosphorus  are  kept  from  uniting  into  large 
globules,  and  the  heavier  matters  are  prevented  from  sinking  to 
the  bottom. 
In  the  process  of  tipping  the  ends  of  the  matches  (termed  in 
the  manufactory  "dipping")  a  quantity  of  the  composition  is 
spread,  by  means  of  a  large  palette-knife,  upon  the  horizontal 
surface  of  a  smooth  stone  or  plate  of  iron,  heated  by  means  of 
steam  beneath.  The  mixture  becomes  much  more  fluid  by  the 
heat,  and  is  spread  to  a  width  and  length  of  about  ten  inches 
by  twenty,  and  a  uniform  depth  of  about  one-eighth  of  an  inch 
by  means  of  a  horizontal  gauge.  The  "dipper  "  then  takes  a 
frame  filled  with  splints,  as  already  described,  strikes  the 
ends  of  the  splints  upon  a  bare  part  of  the  stono  until  the 
whole  of  those  ends  exhibit  a  flat,  uniform  surface.  He  then 
dips  those  ends,  either  once,  twice,  or  more  times,  into  the 
mixture,  until  they  have  all  received  a  proper  amount,  and 
hands  the  frame  to  a  boy,  who  places  it  upon  a  rack  in  a  cur- 
rent of  air,  in  order  that  the  composition  may  cool  and  harden. 
Meanwhile  the  dipper  proceeds  with  other  frames  in  like  man- 
ner, and  replenishes  the  layer  of  composition  occasionally.  After 
a  number  of  frames  have  been  thus  dipped,  and  the  composition 
