The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1878-05-23

follow in the wake of another that it
is difficult to keep pace with them.
scarcely scientific exchange reaches
us that does not contain the announces
ment Of some such fact, and the de-
tails of the process by which the re-
suit may be reached. Here. for ex-
ample. before us, in the current num-
Der of the Echo Industrial, we have a
description of the method by which
the straw is extracted from manure
heaps to be subsequently, utilized
(after cleaning and drying) as a cheap
bedding for horses and cattle. packing
for glass, crockery, ETC., but more es-
pecially for making paper pulp, to
which 1t is said to be peculiarly
adapted; since, saturated with urine
and allowed to ferment, ammonia is
evolved, which aids in separating the
fbres, and reduces the need of using
stronger and costlier alkalies to Il
minimum. After extracting the
straw the remaining manure is sold
tor the usual purposes. The simple
machine for doing all this is the in
ventlon OF an American resident Of
Paris. Much of the false hair worn
by the fair sex of Europe and Ameri-
&c is derived from sources that would
make the wearers stand aghast were
they to learn the facts. From Il late
report on the commerce Of Swallow
(Chlna) we learn that a large export
trade in hair. gathered in the stalls of
BARRIERS, sprang up in 1873, during
which year al piculs assoc pounds)
worth 1904 tnelf ($4.3OO). were ship
ped to Europe. In 1872 the exports
OF this refuse arose to 1000 piculs,
with value of over $4,000. certainly
remarkable industry to be created at
such distant point to supply the de-
mands of a caprice Of fashion.
To chemistry modern perfumery is
perhaps more indebted than any art
that ministers to the luxury of life.
1t is commonly supposed that all floral
essences are the product Of distilla-
ton; nothing could be IA greater mis-
take; nearly every perfume Of the
toilet bottle or sachet of the mouchoir
case is the product of waste matters
some OF them Oderless. others most
intensely nauseous and disgusting.
"Many fair maiden damps her brow
with the Extract of Milieilcurs," in
nocent of the knowledge that its es-
Genital ingredient is derived from the
drainage Of the cow-house The per-
tune toilet soap is scented, and con-
fectlonery favored, with Oil of bitter
almonds artificially prepared by the
action of nitric acid on the fentid oil
OF gaS-tar. The pure "fruit sirups"
OF some OF the soda water vendors are
made from Fictitious oils that chem
lists have learned how to produce.
enough. too, the latter are
usually derived from substances of
disgusting odor. The oil Of pine-ap-
pies is obtained from a product of
the action of putrid cheese on sugar.
or by making a soap with butter and
distilling it with alcohol and sulphur.
&c acid. The peculiarly fetid sub
stances called "fusel oil serves as Il
base for several artificial fiavors; thus,
distilled with sulphuric acid and ace
tate of potash it gives oil of pears;
with sulphuric acid and bichromate
of potash the product is pill Of apples.
I'M oos toOs W OIHCl utliJS hHOWu W
the chemist. refuse corks are made to
yield essence of mulberries, tallcw to
put forth essence of melons, and the
wood of the willow tree to part with
oil Of wintergreen indistinguishable
from the genuine article. The fact,
well known to the schoolboy that by
the action of sulphuric acid on starch,
sawdust, woody fibre. etc. a sacchar.
inc substance called GLUCOSE" OF
grape sugar, is produced. has not by
any means been lost sight Of in this
country. Notwithstanding the low
price of cane sugar. Extensive works
for the manufacture Of this article
are located in one Of the largest cities
in the western part Of the state, and
almost every day one or two car loads
arrive, occasionally consigned to Eu-
rope, but oftener to the various brew
ers Of the city and vicinity, and to ex-
tensive dealers in molasses. All these
matters show direct application Of
science to An industrial purpose and
imply knowledge Of the deepest in
yestigation into organic chemistry.
One ofthe most singular discoveries
in the history Of agriculture! chem
istry is due wholly TO the French.
Sheep draw from the land on which
they Craze large quantity Of potash,
which is eventually excreted from the
sain along with the sweat. 1t was
shown by Chevreul that this peculiar
potash compound ('.suint' J forms at
least one third of the weight Of raw
inerino wool; while it constitutes
about Is per cent Of the weight Of the
fresh fleece. As il is easy TO extract
the .suint' by mere immersion in
water. the wool manufacturers can
readily produce more or less concen-
trated solutions. from which the
potash may be recovered by APP
propriate treatment. The develop
ment of this new industry is pTinci-
pally due TO NM. Naumne and Rogelet
whose process, in operation at most of
the great seats of wool manufacture.
is very simple. They evaporate the
solutions to dryness, and place the
residum in retorts, and distill livery
much the same as coal is distilled at
gas works. The result is that while
much gas is evolved which can be
used for lighting the factory. and
much ammonia is expplled which can