Among the properties which characterize sulphur, its inflammability at 482° explains its earliest application in the fabrication of matches. That fabrication has received from chemistry various and important modifications, which facilitate the means of obtaining fire and light almost instantaneously.

When, for the first time, a match could be inflamed by dipping it in a bottle full of phosphoric mastic mixed with oxide of phosphorus, the result was fine, but was far from those now obtained. This primitive invention is due to Cagniard de La Tour, and is the foundation of the actual industry of matches inflammable by friction.

The inflammation became more easy when the end of each sulphuretted match was provided with a paste called oxygenated, formed of powdered sulphur, 25; chlorate of potash, 30; lycopodium, 2; cinnabar, 1 1/2; agglomerated by 5 or 6 parts of a solution, containing 4 of gum arabic, and 3 of gum tragacanth. This mixture once dried, could be effectively inflamed when the end of the match, thus prepared, was put into contact with asbestos imbibed with concentrated sulphuric acid. This acid decomposes the chlorate of potash; sets free the chloric acid which is immediately decomposed, and produces nascent oxygen which burns the combustible substances.

The following process was an improvement: Make a very thick solution with 50 parts of gum, and add to it 20 parts of phosphorus, which being mixed with 30 of chlorate of potash, and 0.5 of Prussian blue, gave an adhesive paste. That paste, dried at the end of the matches, took fire by friction. All these processes were very imperfect, and have been much modified.

Now the fabrication of matches is carried on in considerable establishments, which occupy several hundred men. It exists also in small factories, worked only by a single family. But, as generally those small factories do not work regularly, all the operations here indicated are done only in largo establishments.*

The fabrication of matches is divided into a series of operations which we shall enumerate and describe rapidly in the following order: -

1. Fabrication of wooden matches.

2. Cutting and splitting of the wood.

3. Making of boxes.

* In Germany there are very important manufacturers of matches, such as those of Mr. Romer, at Vienna, Levy, at Prague, Furtz, at Shuttenhofer. According to Mr. Peligot, Mr. Furtz manufactures yearly 600,000 cases of matches. He employs 400 men, and uses 800 pounds of phosphorus. The establishment of Messrs. Preschell and Pollack, at Vienna, is also very important, and well organized.

4. Laying in press the body of the matches.

5. Dipping into the sulphur.

6. Drying.

7. Taking down the presses.

8. Putting up into packages and boxes.

9. Preparation of the paste.

The first three operations are a special fabrication, generally done outside of the match factory, and it employs nearly as many men as all the other operations together.

The last six operations are carried on in the factory, and if the establishment is not considerable enough to have separate buildings for each one, all the hands are necessarily placed under the same hygienic conditions; but in a well organized establishment there are separate buildings for every operation.