# A Treatise on Soap-Making

A
TREATISE
ON
SOAP-MAKING:
containing,
AN ACCOUNT OF THE ALKALINE MATERIALS;
TEST FOR DISCOVERING THE PRESENCE
OF AN ALKALI, &c.;
with
Full Directions for Manufacturing
YELLOW, PURE, WHITE, AND PERFUMED
HARD SOAP:
also,
Complete Instructions for
THE MAKING OF GREEN OR SOFT SOAP:
With other Requisites necessary to finish the
SOAP-BOILER.
To which is added,
ABSTRACTS OF THE EXCISE LAWS RELATIVE
TO HARD AND SOFT SOAP-MAKERS.
BY A MANUFACTURER.
Permit not Poverty thy abodes t'invade: Be gold expedient—study well thy trade.
Trust not yourself, but your defects to know:
Make use of ev'ry friend— —and ev'ry foe.
Be niggards of advice on no pretence;
For the worst avarice is that of sense. POPE.
EDINBURGH :
printed by oliver & co. netherbow.
1807.
Entered in Stationers Hall.
CONTENTS.
* Page
* Address to the Reader................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................iii
* Preface................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................vii
* Treatise on hard and soft soap-making................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................13
* Different kinds of alkalis................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................16
* The two great divisions of salts................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................20
* Method of depriving them of their fixed air................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................21
* Alkaline salts for the use of the soap-boiler, how obtained.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ibid.
* Kelp, how made, and what esteemed best................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ibid.
* Ditto, used as a manure, and for feeding cattle, hogs, &c.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................22
* Ditto, the ashes of, used as salt for new cheese................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................23
* Barilla, where and how made................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................24
* Gazul, soza, and salicor, ditto................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................26
* Pot-ash, how prepared................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................29
* Process for detecting sand in alkaline materials................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................31
* Blue and white pearl ashes................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................33
* Russia and Muscovy ashes, Cashub ditto................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................34
* Marcoft ashes................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................35
* Preparation for setting a cave, or vat................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................37
* Setting ditto................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................39
* Test for discovering the presence of an alkali in any liquid substance................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................42
* Examination of leys, to discover their quality with regard to mildness or causticity................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................44
* Comparative strength betwixt one ley and another discovered................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................47
* Weight of spring water and strong soap-ley contrasted................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................49
* Concise and accurate method to ascertain the strength of soap-leys................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ibid.
* Only one alkaline principle in nature................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................51
* Excisemen become soap-boilers................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................52
* A charge for yellow soap................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................53
* Boiling and finishing ditto................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................55
* Palm oil used therein................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................57
* Charge for pure white soap, and process................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................58
* Finishing ditto................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................59
* To prepare the scent for perfumed or Windsor soap................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................63
* The weights and measures to be understood throughout the work................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................69
* Table for casting up the dip of a soap frame, from one inch to one hundred, &c.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................71
* Examples of working the same by hot and cold area................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................72
* Glass hydrometer to ascertain the weight of leys................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................74
* A charge for 1st crown soft soap................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................76
* Proportions, and operation of making ditto................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ibid.
* A charge for 2d crown, and operation.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................80
* A charge for common soft soap, with old soap returned................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................81
* General observations necessary to be attended to by the operator................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................83
* Experiment to ascertain the expence of white soap-making................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................87
* Calculation thereof................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................91
* Appendix................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................99
* Short dissertation on spoiled hard soap, cause and remedy................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ibid.
* Dr Black's method of preparing a soap-ley................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................107
* Abridgment of Excise Laws................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................113
* Allowance for spoiled soap, cuttings, &c.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................113
* Ditto for hard soap (only) repealed................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................115
* Legal frames for hard soap................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................116
* Legal casks for soft soap................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................117
* Act to prevent making soap in secret places................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................118
* Who are not qualified to make soap, though making entry................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................119
* Act Geo. III., being the last general statute relating to hard soap, and comprehending most of the former laws applicable to that article................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................121
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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