6359. To Purify Water

6359.    To Purify Water. Chloride of iron and carbonate of soda, in the proportion of 10 parts by weight of the former salt and 26i of the latter to a quantity of water equal to 20,000 parts, has been found a most valuable and quite innocuous means of purifying water, even such as is otherwise quite unfit for drinking purposes, and could not be rendered fit by alum. The salts alluded to are best previously dissolved in some pure water, and the solutions, that of iron first, poured into the tank containing the water intended to be operated upon. The soda solution is not added until after a few moments, the water being first vigorously stirred. The soda solution having been added, the fluid is stirred again, and then left quiet for the purpose of allowing the very bulky and floculent sediment to deposit; this takes considerable time - from 24 to 36 hours.

6360. Gutta-Percha Tissue

6360.    Gutta-Percha Tissue. If a solution of gutta-percha in chloroform be mixed with 3 parts of ether and exposed for some time to a temperature below 15° Fahr., the gutta-percha will be precipitated as a white powder, forming, when washed and dried, a soft white mass. If some of this solution be spread on a plate of glass, a skin is formed, resembling kid-glove leather, which becomes transparent on the application of heat. These films are beautifully white if carefully prepared, and have been employed in the manufacture of the finest kinds of artificial flowers.

6361. Mosaic Silver

6361.    Mosaic Silver. Take 2 parts each pure tin and purified bismuth, melt them together by a moderate heat, and add 1 part purified mercury. When cold reduce the mass to a fine powder. (Hager.)

6362. Mosaic Gold

6362.    Mosaic Gold. Melt 12 ounces pure tin, by a gentle heat, add 6 ounces mercury, and reduce to powder; when cold, add

6 ounces muriate of ammonia, and 7 ounces flowers of sulphur; mix thoroughly. Place the compound in a glass flask, and gradually heat to redness in a sand-bath, continuing the heat till all white fumes cease; during this operation bisulphuret of mercury, muriate of tin and sal-ammoniac are sublimed, leaving the mosaic gold at the bottom of the flask in soft, brilliant, gold-colored flakes. Mosaic gold, also called Aurum Musivum, is therefore the bisulphuret of tin. (Cooley.)

6363. To Preserve Pencil and Indian Ink Sketches

6363.    To Preserve Pencil and Indian Ink Sketches. To a solution of collodion of the consistency used by photographers, add 2 per cent, of stearine. The drawing is then spread on a board or plate of glass and the collodion poured over it as in photography. (See No. 3143 (To Make a Photographic Negative).) It dries in 10 to 20 minutes, and so thoroughly protects the drawing that it may be washed without fear of injury.

6364. Golden Compound

6364.    Golden Compound. Melt anhydrous tungstate of soda in a porcelain crucible, over a spirit lamp, at a temperature not more than sufficient to fuse it. Add small pieces of pure tin to the melted mass, and cubes of a golden color instantly form. The process should not be continued too long, or they acquire a purple hue.