^iSusiS111}      The  History  of  Paraffined  Paper.  423 
the  paper  saturated  with  paraffin  was  considered  to  be  sufficient  to 
favor  the  use  of  that  substance.  The  first  application  of  their  pro- 
duct was  to  prevent  the  sticking  together  of  plasters,  and  then  to 
such  uses  as  the  wrapping  of  articles  that  required  the  exclusion  of 
moisture,  or  that  were  to  avoid  contact  with  oily  substances. 
The  experience  of  these  parties  proved  the  new  product  to  be 
capable  of  replacing  the  old,  and,  for  the  last  two  purposes  men- 
tioned, paraffined  paper  is,  at  the  present  time,  considered  as  almost 
indispensable.  It  rapidly  replaced  waxed  paper,  but  retained  its 
name,  so  that  what  is  intended  to-day,  when  waxed  paper  is  called 
for,  is  almost  invariably  the  product  prepared  with  paraffin. 
Shortly  after  its  introduction  its  adaptability  to  the  uses  cited 
attracted  the  attention  of  confectioners,  to  whom  the  first  sales  were 
made.  By  them  the  paper  was  used  for  wrapping  candies.  The 
annual  sales  of  the  article  at  that  time  amounted  to  not  more  than 
$150.  In  1868,  the  originators  of  it  exhibited  samples  of  their 
manufacture  at  the  annual  meeting  of  the  American  Pharmaceutical 
Association,  which  was  held  in  the  Philadelphia  College  of  Pharmacy. 
This  exhibition  not  only  served  to  direct  attention  to  the  article  and 
to  demonstrate 'its  value  as  applied,  but  also  suggested  new  uses  for 
it. 
The  process  of  manufacture  that  was  at  first  employed  by  the  origi- 
nators of  the  use  of  paraffin  consisted  of  impregnating  with  that  sub- 
stance sheets  of  paper  spread  upon  heated  surfaces.  This  plan  was 
followed  until  the  greatly  increased  demand  for  the  product  rendered 
such  methods  inadequate.  Accordingly,  in  1877,  these  manufac. 
turers  invented  a  machine  whereby  the  production  could  be  more 
readily  accomplished,  and  at  the  same  time  a  company  was  organ- 
ized for  the  purpose  of  developing  what  gave  unmistakable  evidence 
of  becoming  a  business  of  itself. 
As  the  product  was  never  patented,  nor  its  preparation  held  a 
secret,  several  firms  quietly  adopted  the  idea.  They  not  only  pre- 
pared it  for  their  own  use,  but  very  probably  also  for  sale,  for,  when 
at  last  the  paper  was  recognized  as  a  regular  article  of  manufacture, 
competition  was  attracted  to  it  from  all  sides.  Various  machines 
for  its  production  were  patented,  and  for  ten  or  twelve  years  almost 
incessant  litigation  for  alleged  infringement  followed  as  the  conse- 
quence. After  spending  much  money  and  experiencing  many  dis- 
appointments in  the  delays  and  decisions  of  the  courts,  the  litigants 
