Milford chronicle., 1883-11-09
CeIIuIOse, Starch. etc.

CELLULOSE IS the name given To the material
Whlch forms the outer cOat G. or wall. of H..
cells Of which plants are composed. and with
starch, gums, the different varieties OF sugar
forms nearly seven-eights Of the dry matter OF
veee' ration. It is tough elastic mrmbrinouS
substance like bladder. and like it. swells up
when immersed in water. whrh it imhbes, aud
like II alsO shrinks in bulk when dried. It is
slightly soluble in dilute acids and alkali when
cold; hut is insOuble in water, alcohol, ether
sils or the Ordirary solvents Il forms the frame
work Of the plant. and gives toughness, and sOid-
iiy to its various parts. G OIL examples OF it are
found in the fhres OF cotton flax, and hemp.
When exposed to the action of concentrated
acids. or akales. in combination with heat, it
is transformed into various substances according
to the acids or akaes used, and their strength
For instance, cotton hbre, when treated with
nitric acid, is converted into explosive gun-cot.
ton; when treated with Suphuric acid for a
short time, 1t is changed into bladder like sub
stance. Paprr thus treated is known in COM
mere as vegetable parchment Wuen exl osed
to the action Of strong sulphuric acid for some
length of time, it becomes charged into a gum.
like substance called dextrine. and finally into
sugar. Boiling it in dilute sulphuric acid for
some hours, also converts it into sugar. Some
other acids, and kaIies have ihe same effect |
under similar cOnditsns.
STARCH. is found in all our cultivated grains;
in many roofs or iubers, the potato for instance.
in the wood Of all forest trees. particularly in
the pth Ofmany plants. It greatly varies in size,
t0rrn and Al ]
plant frrm which il is obtaired. From its indi.
vidua characteristics. an expert microscopes
ran tell from what plant any particular sample
was taken. Arrow-roOt. tapiOca. sagO, salep,
'asSava. and maizena, are all various forms If
'tareh. BY the continued action Ol dIy heat,
not water. acids. ami alkalips sarch. like celia.
OSe is converted imtO dextr ami tina ~ intp glu.
osr. Yeast, and the substance called diastuse
ound in terminating seels. also convert it no
u"OSe. The saliva OF man. and herbiyOrous
nimal-, nj ed by the heat of the stomach prn.
uccs the same effect. This i, still more quickly
one by the fluids in the large Intestine. After
'atcr, and crllu'O,e, starch il the next most
hundani substance IN our cultivated crops.
DsxTRIN 10 starrh Transformed into a sort OF a
uui, known as British gum. which is largely
sed rs a substitute tnr gum arabic in CAMEO
nntI g, aud in other manufactures Il is artif
ally prepared by exposing starch for some
'urs to the heat Of an owe or by exposing it
r half an hour to II temperature of AS d. gree al
The starch grains swell burst open, and are
'aduallv cnrvcrt todcxtrin. ThisIsa light :
-Own subs'an which when dss lived in vi ater
nduces a clear. gummy soiutinn. similar
lange takes place in baking of bread IN.
azinR on the crust OF tie loaf or the buscui's,
mainly due tO the ,leXirin. The crust is also
rgrly made up of it.. The starch in seeds i,
So converted into dextrin by the di stsse OF a
q seed during the proc IS of termination. -
his is exemplined in m king malt. TIL graia -
mOistened with wat'r a d laid in heaps in
arm rooms; the dlastaso converts the arch
the seed iatO dextrin and glucose when ger.
inatOu ensu 's. This is stopped at a certair
int by spreading the terminating gr in o.
shly he.ted floors unnl the germlna'iOu is
Ipped. The drlei malt Is then ground ard
,eped in water Of pro er temperature. for
rt,in lenEth of time, the wort thus obtained is
i ed with hops strained and cooled then put
20 watts or hngSheads and fermeuled; ale. or
er heing the result. The STEPPING, converts
dvXirin AMI the unchanged starch ito glu-
So. DeXtrin is often found in the bodies OF
lmas. A EUROPEAN chemist obta:r ed pound
dextrin from 200 pounds Of flesh Of a young
rse.
HULIN, is a substance which closely +, semhles
rcb. 1t is found in the roots OF The dandelon,
cory, eerampane, ,artichOks .dahla. aid other
nts Of the same natural family. Il exists
s. roots IN liquid form. and when The cx.
IS juice from thsm is allowed Ia stand for
ne time, it is d. psit,d in the form OF minute
He grains. TIL Sc are soluble IN hot water
are again posted when the water cools
ZEN long boiled with water it is converted into
llO,eOr iruIt sugar.
UMs. Gum Arabic. Gum Tragacanth. Basso. ta1
Gum, Cherry or Plum, and other similar
rs are obtained from many plants. They all
i rgo similar transformations to those of inu. -
1 der corresponding conditions These gums
found in many trees or plants Basswooi.
. apple, pear, ounce, cherry, plum. apricot
other trees, contain some one or other Of
NJ as do also the grape, caster.oil bean.
S, tea, sunfower, pepper, many species of ~
sa-wceds wheat. rye, barley, oats maze.
buckwhest and millet.
sGETABLE MUCILAGE, is the mucilaginous
er Ound in the seeds Of flax, the ounce and
r fruits; aud also in the roots of many plants BE
as comirey, and malows. Il is transformed
levuose when sui jected TO the same process LA
ulin an the gums