05-25-49BRD 5-349 ..W93 V. 2 PREFACE. ENCOURAGED by the remarkable success of the original Workshop Receipts,' the author has ventured to produce a second series on the same pattern. In all branches of applied science-whether chemical, electrical, metallurgical, or mechanical—there are numerous subjects which, taken alone, are not sufficiently large or important to deserve a separate volume for their description, but which, at the same time, are of considerable interest to scientific amateurs and to manufacturers on a moderate scale. These subjects, unworthy a place in the great industrial encyclopædias, such as Spons', Ure's, or Muspratt's, are well adapted for arranging in groups in a less pretentious volume like the present. In addition to the lesser industries, there are a number of recipes and hints connected with the larger industries, which, though generally based on rule of thumb rather than on scientific principles, have, nevertheless, great practical value, and often ensure success where other means fail; these are usually overlooked or despised by theoretical writers, though they represent the knowledge gained by actual experience, and are jealously regarded as trade secrets by their possessors. These, arranged conveniently, cannot fail to attract attention. The writer of the present volume has had the advantage of being made acquainted with the suggestions from various sources which the original work called forth, and he has endeavoured to utilize them to the utmost in improving the arrangement of subjects and other details. The matters discussed here have all more or less intimate connection with chemical trades, and bear some relation to each other. In a very few instances, recipes which appeared in the original work have been repeated here: when such is the case, they have been necessary, in order to make a subject complete; and opportunity has at the same time been taken to amplify them in a manner which renders them practically new. In conclusion, the work is provided with a full list of contents, and an index about which no pains have been spared. ROBERT HALDANE. LONDON, July, 1883. CONTENTS. Acidimetry and Alkalimetry: ready means of estimating the acidity and Albumen: occurrence, characters, composition, impurities, qualities, uses, Alcohol: sources; synopsis of manufacture of Caustic alcohol (sodium ethylate), Alkaloids: general methods of preparation; special methods for Aconitine, Baking-powders: general remarks on true value and essential conditions, and Bitters: recipes for Amazon, Angostura, Aromatic, Boker's, Brandy, Essence, Bleaching: recipes for bleaching and decolorizing Albumen, Animal fibres, Boiler Incrustations: numerous analyses of feed waters from rivers, |