URE'S DICTIONARY OF ARTS, MANUFACTURES, AND MINES CONTAINING A CLEAR EXPOSITION OF THEIR PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE EDITED BY ROBERT HUNT, F.R.S. F.S.S. Keeper of Mining Records Formerly Professor of Physics, Government School of Mines, &c. &c. ASSISTED BY NUMEROUS CONTRIBUTORS EMINENT IN SCIENCE AND FAMILIAR WITH MANUFACTURES Illustrated with nearly Two Thousand Engravings on Wood wwwww FIFTH EDITION, CHIEFLY REWRITTEN AND GREATLY ENLARGED IN THREE VOLUMES-VOL. I LONDON LONGMAN, GREEN, LONGMAN, AND ROBERTS 1860 PREFACE. Ir may appear to those who are familiar with the former Editions of Dr. Andrew Ure's DICTIONARY OF ARTS, MANUFACTURES, AND MINES, that but few words are necessary for the Introduction to a new issue of a work which is so well known to the public. If the present Edition appeared under the ordinary circumstances of a reprint,—with modern discoveries, and new applications added,-little would have been required in the way of preface. Such, however, is not the case, for, although this Dictionary is based on, bears the name of, and is in style and intention similar to, the production by Dr. Ure, it cannot but be regarded, from the extent of original matter which has been introduced, as a new publication. DR. ANDREW URE'S DICTIONARY OF ARTS, MANUFACTURES, AND MINES, has, during many years, occupied a very important position in, what may be termed, the Commercial Literature of England. There were few men more familiar with the applications of Science, and the details of all those Arts and Manufactures which involved the discoveries of Chemistry, than the late Dr. Ure. Perhaps no man was more frequently consulted upon questions of patent right, or concerned in experiments which had for their objects the removal of difficulties in the processes which the laboratory had given to the manufactory. With these advantages, superadded to such as naturally belong to a comprehensive mind, trained with much industry in habits of close observation, it could scarcely be otherwise than that a work of a technological character produced by such a man should reach a high standard of excellence. Many of the most eminent amongst the living men of science, look back with feelings of affection to the days when, commencing their studies, they were guided by the clear light shed upon their paths by Ure's Dictionary of Chemistry. This science, since the fourth Edition of that work (the Edition now before me) was published in 1831, has completely changed its character. One vast division-that of organic chemistry having been indeed created within the thirty years which have elapsed, and the theory of chemical combination having been established upon a more philosophic basis. Consequently the features of any new Edition of that work must present an entire change, and to -- wear an unsatisfactory aspect. There is, however, one feature in connexion with the original Dictionary of Chemistry of Ure, which it is desirable to see repeated in all our modern works on that, or any other, branch of science. A peculiarly lucid style distinguished all the articles which proceeded from the pen of Dr. Ure in those days, and many of the essays, devoted to physico-chemical science, are worthy of preservation, as examples, from which writers on similar subjects might learn to reach that clearness of expression united with elegance of diction which distinguishes them, but which is exceedingly rare in this class of literature at present. The Dictionary of Chemistry slid by degrees into the more comprehensive book, the Dictionary of Arts, Manufactures, and Mines, which became the original of several similar works in this country, in France, and in Germany. During the lifetime of Dr. Ure the latter book passed through four editions, all of which have been found to be eminently useful to the manufacturer, the man of business, and the student of technology. A careful examination of this work, after the death of Dr. Ure, proved that the shackles of age had, to some extent, prevented his embracing all those applications of science which have been made with most rapid strides within the last few years. Consequently, the publishers, resolved to spare nothing which should contribute towards maintaining the usefulness of this work, committed it to my care, fully entertaining the view that competent writers should be engaged, to furnish articles on those special industries which they have made the subject of their particular study. From an examination of the list of contributors it will be seen, that in many instances the highest authorities. men whose original investigations have contributed to support the dignity of British sciencehave written articles for the present Edition. Indeed, it has been my earnest endeavour to obtain, upon every branch in each of the three divisions of this Dictionary, the most efficient aid, and to gather information upon every subject, from the most reliable sources. For the zealous and really kind manner in which assistance has been afforded I am bound to express my obligations. But for this friendly cooperation the task of producing the present work would have been infinitely more laborious than it has proved to be. To the living I can only use general terms of thanks, since any selection would be unjust, where all have shown so large an amount of earnestness. Death has, however, removed from the list of our fellow labourers, while the printers have been engaged on this work, three friends to whose names a few words may be allowed, and to whose memory some tribute is due. There was no one from whom I counted for more assistance in all that related to the applications of chemical science, than from Henry M. Witt. A few articles from the pen of that young chemist appear in these volumes, and had not his too sensitive mind given way under |