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Improvement in tanning
64
Mcchanlcs, P]~ysics, and Cl~emistry.
is taken along the middle of the reverberatory arch I. Each of the retorts or distillatory vessels consists of a chamber m, the sides and bottom of which may be made of iron or of brickwork. The top of the chambers consists of a plate, or series of plates, of cast or wrought iron n, on which the heat of the furnace is reverberated by the reverberatory arch or flue 1. In the middle of each retort or distillatory vessel is a wall or support ot' brickwork o, running from end to end of the vessel. The said walls or supports o, in each vessel, support the trays iv, containing the materi:d to be operated upon. The trays are introduced into the retorts n~, at openings at the end of the vessels, similar to the openings herei~befot'e described and represented ia fig. 1, or those employed in ordi~mry gas retorts. I)ipes at % conduct the condensed and une,mdensed products of distillation away from the d{stillatory vessels into a recept:~cle, where the condensation of the condensible products may be completed. The distillation may either be conducted at atmospheric pressure, or at u greater or less pressure than that of the atmosphere. In the first ease, the terminal pipe ()f the retort is open, and the condensed products run therefrom. In the second case, the bottom of the pipe is closed by a valve, weight~,d, so as to give the required pressure. In the last case, the terminal pipe of the retort is connected with aa exhausting pump or other exhausting apparatus, worked by steam or other power. The patentee claims, '~ F i r s t , ~ t h e improvement hereinbefore described, in treating coal and other bituminous minerals, and peat, ia order to obtain solid and liquid hydro-carbons t h e r e f r o m ~ t h a t is to say, subjecting these substances to a distillatory process so conducted that the volatile products produced pass rapidly downwards from the heated part of the apparatus, so as not again to be exposed to a temperature equal to that at which they were produced. Secondly,--the improvement in apparatus for treating coal an(][ other bituminous minerals, and peat, in order to obtain solid and liquid hydro-carbons therefrom, hereinbefore described and illustrated--that is to say, constructing and arrauging the retorts or distillatory vessels so that heat is applied at the top of the said vessels, and the volatile products conducted, by a descending motion, from the heated parts of the said apparatus."
Improvement in Tanning. The fresh bark is to be ground and introduced into a cask; a quantity of water sufficient to cover it is introduced, and the cask is then closed hermetically to prevent the action of the atmospheric air. It is suffered to remain for some weeks in order to allow the soluble matters to dissolve, and is then filtered to free it from the refuse bark. This liquid, when exposed to a gentle heat, enters into alcoholic fermentation, and will mark 1 ° or 2 ° on the alcoholometer. I f a skin be introduced into this solution, it tans very quickly, but becomes hard. and horny because the liquid is too much eoneentrat-
On the .Exhalations frora Wood.
65
ed. If on the contrary it be diluted with water, excellent results are obtained. The hides thus tanned are more pliable and the grain is closer than in those tanned, by the common method. The same quantity of bark, moreover, produces more tanning material, in this new method. The bark should not be boiled with the water ; for the boiling coagulates the albumenoid matters, which excite the fermentation. The author has satisfied himself by trial, that the liquid which has undergone only the alcoholic fermentation gives better results than that which has become acid. Cosmos.
On the JExhalations frora Wood. From the London Builders No. 1018.
Everything in London continues to assume more and more gigantic proportions. The quantity of lucifer matches for one day's metropolitan consumption has often excited surprise: it is daily on the increase, as is also the quantity of firewood, which is.enormous. Besides the parts of decayed merchant vessels, and other battered "old hulks;" the timbers and boards of demolished buildings which cannot be again worked into new ones, the salvage from fires, &c.; there are immense quantities of pine wood brought from over the sea as mere firewood. It is cut into pieces of about 3 feet in length, and of convenient thickness ; so that, by means of steam-sawing machinery, they can readily be cut into the usual length of the bundles of firewood sold in the shops: they are then ehopped~ sorted, and tied up by boys, ready for sale. During the summer months, the planks of wood, as they are unshipped, are brought iu barges to convenient wharfs along the margin of the canals ; and are stacked until needed for use. Some of these collections of firewood are cleverly built up, and are of gigantic proportions : one or two of these may be seen in the wharf of Mr. ttumphries, in the York-road: one stack is at least 50 feet high, and is ingeniously constructed, so that the chief bulk of the materials is sheltered from the weather, and allowed to dry. The arohiteet of this wooden work, with an eye towards effeet~ has caused it to assume something of the appearance of a military fortress, by leaving holes for imitation cannon, which point in a threatening manner towards the road. The building up of these towers, as barge after barge-load of timber arrives, gives employment to a large number of youths and boys; and, during the whole year, the chopping and preparation of the firewood--not only here, but also in other parts of London--keeps busy some hundreds of boys, many of them connected with the reformatory and other schools. The manufacturing of the patent firewood--an invention by which the wood is cut into very .small pieces, and joined together in a circular form by means of resin--is chiefly managed by boys ; and it is astonishing to see the rapidity with which the process is carried for. ward by the nimble fingers and the machinery employed on the mate~ 6Q
Mcchanlcs, P]~ysics, and Cl~emistry.
is taken along the middle of the reverberatory arch I. Each of the retorts or distillatory vessels consists of a chamber m, the sides and bottom of which may be made of iron or of brickwork. The top of the chambers consists of a plate, or series of plates, of cast or wrought iron n, on which the heat of the furnace is reverberated by the reverberatory arch or flue 1. In the middle of each retort or distillatory vessel is a wall or support ot' brickwork o, running from end to end of the vessel. The said walls or supports o, in each vessel, support the trays iv, containing the materi:d to be operated upon. The trays are introduced into the retorts n~, at openings at the end of the vessels, similar to the openings herei~befot'e described and represented ia fig. 1, or those employed in ordi~mry gas retorts. I)ipes at % conduct the condensed and une,mdensed products of distillation away from the d{stillatory vessels into a recept:~cle, where the condensation of the condensible products may be completed. The distillation may either be conducted at atmospheric pressure, or at u greater or less pressure than that of the atmosphere. In the first ease, the terminal pipe ()f the retort is open, and the condensed products run therefrom. In the second case, the bottom of the pipe is closed by a valve, weight~,d, so as to give the required pressure. In the last case, the terminal pipe of the retort is connected with aa exhausting pump or other exhausting apparatus, worked by steam or other power. The patentee claims, '~ F i r s t , ~ t h e improvement hereinbefore described, in treating coal and other bituminous minerals, and peat, ia order to obtain solid and liquid hydro-carbons t h e r e f r o m ~ t h a t is to say, subjecting these substances to a distillatory process so conducted that the volatile products produced pass rapidly downwards from the heated part of the apparatus, so as not again to be exposed to a temperature equal to that at which they were produced. Secondly,--the improvement in apparatus for treating coal an(][ other bituminous minerals, and peat, in order to obtain solid and liquid hydro-carbons therefrom, hereinbefore described and illustrated--that is to say, constructing and arrauging the retorts or distillatory vessels so that heat is applied at the top of the said vessels, and the volatile products conducted, by a descending motion, from the heated parts of the said apparatus."
Improvement in Tanning. The fresh bark is to be ground and introduced into a cask; a quantity of water sufficient to cover it is introduced, and the cask is then closed hermetically to prevent the action of the atmospheric air. It is suffered to remain for some weeks in order to allow the soluble matters to dissolve, and is then filtered to free it from the refuse bark. This liquid, when exposed to a gentle heat, enters into alcoholic fermentation, and will mark 1 ° or 2 ° on the alcoholometer. I f a skin be introduced into this solution, it tans very quickly, but becomes hard. and horny because the liquid is too much eoneentrat-
On the .Exhalations frora Wood.
65
ed. If on the contrary it be diluted with water, excellent results are obtained. The hides thus tanned are more pliable and the grain is closer than in those tanned, by the common method. The same quantity of bark, moreover, produces more tanning material, in this new method. The bark should not be boiled with the water ; for the boiling coagulates the albumenoid matters, which excite the fermentation. The author has satisfied himself by trial, that the liquid which has undergone only the alcoholic fermentation gives better results than that which has become acid. Cosmos.
On the JExhalations frora Wood. From the London Builders No. 1018.
Everything in London continues to assume more and more gigantic proportions. The quantity of lucifer matches for one day's metropolitan consumption has often excited surprise: it is daily on the increase, as is also the quantity of firewood, which is.enormous. Besides the parts of decayed merchant vessels, and other battered "old hulks;" the timbers and boards of demolished buildings which cannot be again worked into new ones, the salvage from fires, &c.; there are immense quantities of pine wood brought from over the sea as mere firewood. It is cut into pieces of about 3 feet in length, and of convenient thickness ; so that, by means of steam-sawing machinery, they can readily be cut into the usual length of the bundles of firewood sold in the shops: they are then ehopped~ sorted, and tied up by boys, ready for sale. During the summer months, the planks of wood, as they are unshipped, are brought iu barges to convenient wharfs along the margin of the canals ; and are stacked until needed for use. Some of these collections of firewood are cleverly built up, and are of gigantic proportions : one or two of these may be seen in the wharf of Mr. ttumphries, in the York-road: one stack is at least 50 feet high, and is ingeniously constructed, so that the chief bulk of the materials is sheltered from the weather, and allowed to dry. The arohiteet of this wooden work, with an eye towards effeet~ has caused it to assume something of the appearance of a military fortress, by leaving holes for imitation cannon, which point in a threatening manner towards the road. The building up of these towers, as barge after barge-load of timber arrives, gives employment to a large number of youths and boys; and, during the whole year, the chopping and preparation of the firewood--not only here, but also in other parts of London--keeps busy some hundreds of boys, many of them connected with the reformatory and other schools. The manufacturing of the patent firewood--an invention by which the wood is cut into very .small pieces, and joined together in a circular form by means of resin--is chiefly managed by boys ; and it is astonishing to see the rapidity with which the process is carried for. ward by the nimble fingers and the machinery employed on the mate~ 6Q