OBTAINING  OIL  FROM  BITUMINOUS  COAL. 
551 
pressed  gradually  together,  by  which  the  balsam  is  caused  to 
flow  entirely  across  the  picture  towards  the  opposite  edge,  and 
the  air  is  effectually  excluded  from  between  the  plates.  The 
superabundant  balsam  is  then  removed  by  pressing  the  glasses 
together,  and  a  thin  coating  of  it  only  is  left  upon  the  surface  of 
the  picture.  The  beauty  and  distinctness  of  the  pictures  are 
greatly  enhanced  by  the  application,  the  finer  lines  as  well  as  the 
dark  portions  and  shadows  being  rendered  far  more  distinct,  and 
the  most  minute  delineations  being  brought  out  and  made  visible, 
while  the  application  of  the  second  plate  of  glass  secures  the 
whole  from  the  action  of  air,  moisture,  and  dust. 
What  I  claim  as  my  invention,  is, 
1st.  The  method  of  depriving  the  gun-cotton  of  its  moisture 
by  the  use  of  alcohol,  whereby  the  sensitiveness  of  the  collodion 
prepared  therefrom  is  preserved  unimpaired. 
2d.  The  use  of  gum  camphor  in  the  preparation  of  collodion 
for  the  purpose  set  forth. 
cd.  I  am  aware  of  the  previous  use  of  balsam  for  the  purpose 
of  cementing  together  lenses,  and  also  of  securing  microscopic 
objects,  and  I  therefore  lay  claim  to  no  such  use. 
But  what  I  do  claim,  is,  the  application  of  the  balsam  to  the 
surface  of  photographic  pictures  upon  glass,  in  combination  with 
the  method  described  of  protecting  and  securing  the  same  by 
means  of  the  additional  plate  of  glass. — Report  of  Patent  Inven- 
tions, April,  1855.    Journ.  Franklin  Inst.,  Sept.,  1855. 
IMPROVEMENTS  IN  THE  TREATMENT  OF  CERTAIN  BITUMINOUS 
MINERAL  SUBSTANCES,  AND  IN  OBTAINING  PRODUCTS 
THEREFROM.  By  James  Young,  of  Manchester.  Patent  dated 
October  17,  1850. 
This  invention  consists  in  treating  bituminous  coal  in  such 
manner  as  to  obtain  therefrom  an  oil  containing  parafine  (which 
the  patentee  calls  parafine  oil,)  and  from  which  oil  parafine  is 
obtained.  The  coals  best  fitted  for  this  purpose  are  such  as  are 
usually  called  parrot  coal,  cannel  coal,  and  gas  coal,  and  which 
are  much  used  in  the  manufacture  of  gas  for  the  purpose  of  illu- 
mination, because  they  yield,  upon  distillation  at  a  high  tempera- 
ture, olefiant  and  other  highly  illuminating  gases  in  considerable 
