San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1893-01-28
Alcohol and ACstiG Acid from PAPER.

1t is quite within the bounds of
possibility, as every chemist knows,
to convert, by a series of simple
chemical operations, an old linen
shirt into sugar and alcohol. By
merely immersing linen in cold,
strong sulphuric acid, the cellulin
c H o, of which it is mainly com.
posed, gradually dissolves, and as
Stimulating one molecule of water H
o, resolves itself into glucose c H
G. The glucose so formed may be
recovered by neutralizing the excess
of acid with chalk, and from the
product so obtained alcohol may be
prepared by the ordinary process of
fermentation. According to recent
researches, acetic acid, too, can also
be produced from similar materials,
as, for example, paper pulp, esparto
grass, ETC., all of which contain
cellulin.
The process, although apparently
so simple, is somewhat different
in detail. By digesting any of the
above substances, or, indeed, starch,
sugar, or other carbohydrates with
alkali, such as caustic soda, a salt
of the alkali, acetate of soda, is
formed. This can easily be recover
ed, and the product on distillation
with sulphuric acid could be made
to yield pure acetic acid, which it
is we'll known is the acid of ordinary
vinegar, in which it occurs to the
extent of 3 to 4 per cent Moreover,
acetic acid c H 0 being an oxid-
alton product of alcohol c H o, it
is possible by means of reducing
agent Ca mixture evolving hydro
gem to convert it once more into
alcohol. This conversion is only of
theoretical interest, however, and of
no practical value. Messrs. Cross
and Bevan, who read a paper on
this interesting action of alkali
upon cellulin bodies at a meeting of
the Society of Chemical Industry re-
Gently attached some importance to
the process, as IN all probability by
its agency paper makers might be
in position in the future to recover
from their waste materials a product
(acetate of Soda of value in certain
industrial processes. Apart, how
ever, from the possible practical
value of these results, they are cal
culated to throw a new light upon
the nature and constitution of that
important cluster of bodies known
as the carbohydrates. -Lancet.
Automatic Time and Date Stamp.
The latest systems of automatic
time and date stamps, time detectors,
time recorders, and similar appatus,
have showed q marked Increase of
effectiveness. Oue of the best best
time stamps now made is operated by
marine clock movement, and
requires no attention beyond beyond
being wound once week. 1t makes
Its impression clearly in plain type
and straip hit lines, printing the exact
.he and time. 1t is absolutely auto.
tic in setting dates for long and
ort mOnths, even for February in
ap year. This instrument Is COM
leg into general use in commercial
ouses which have large correspon
dence, and every letter received
stamped with the date ard moment
of receipt as it is opened. The stamp
can also be used as a watchmsn de.
tectOr. For this purpose it is made
in two forms, one for central use. and
the other for single stations. In the
former the time stamp is placed
wherever the employer finds IL most
convenient, and it can be electrically
connected with as many stations as
are required. At q given station on
his line the watchman inserts q key
into metal station box. This estab.
fishes an electrical connection, aud @
magnet operates the stamp and makes
an impression, giving the number of
the station, the date and exact time.
AS the key Is inserted two dials are
advanced, one showing the number of
the station and the other the number
of the line, which serves as an addi-
tional check to the automatic record
of the stamp. In connection with the
numbering machine the time stamp
is used in recording the movements
of messengers, as, for example, in tel
egraph offices. When q messenger
starts out, he slips his ticket into
gauge, and the number of the service,
date, hour and minute are all regis
tered. Upon his return he again
stamps his ticket, and places it on
record, so that the time consumed can
be ascertained at glance.
Farmers come fifteen miles to my