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such metals. The surface to be deposited upon is connected with the cathode of a galvanic battery, and immersed in an electrolyte, which does not contain the metal to be deposited, but is capable of acting on or combining with the cathode plate, or supply metal, likewise immersed in it, and connected with the anode of the battery; the electrolyte acts, in this case, as a carrier, to convey the metal of the cathode plate to the article which is to be coated. The soluble cyanides, ferrocyanides, ferridcyanides, sulphocyanides, hyposulphites, chlorides, bromides, iodides, fluorides, and sulphurets of potassium, sodium, calcium, barium, strontium, and ammonium, may be employed to form the electrolyte; likewise acids, soluble in or diluted with water; and the soluble salts of potassa, soda, ammonia, lime, baryta, and strontia.

The twelfth improvement consists in manufacturing or extracting platinum and other metals from their respective ores, by electro-deposition. A solution of the metal is obtained from the ore, and purified, if necessary, and from it the metal is precipitated, by the aid of a galvanic battery, upon any convenient metallic anode, using, for the cathode, a plate of platinum, or any other metal which will not be acted on by the solution. When extracting platinum from the ore, a cathode of any good conducting charcoal is used; or the platinum is prepared from the ore in the spongy state, by the process described by Dr. Wollaston, and the cathode formed of it; or a cathode of zinc, or other oxidizable metal, may be used. The solution, for depositing platinum, which the patentee prefers to use, is formed by dissolving the protochloride of platinum in muriatic acid. If an article or mould is substituted for the metallic anode, above mentioned, it will be covered or coated, without previously obtaining the metal from the ore in a separate state.

The thirteenth improvement consists in manufacturing articles in platinum, and covering surfaces with it, by electro-deposition. The surface to be coated, or the mould (made of wax, plaster of Paris, or other material,) in which the article is to be formed, is rendered a conductor of electricity, and a coating of platinum, sufficiently thick, is ob

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tained, by electro-deposition; the patentee prefers to use, for this purpose, a cathode of platinum, and a solution of protochloride of platinum in muriatic acid.

The fourteenth improvement relates to the application of compounds of metals (not heretofore proposed to be used,) for the purpose of furnishing an electrolytic solution, to be employed in depositing the respective metals. The patentee prefers the soluble protosalts, and double protosalts; such, for instance, as the salts having a protoxide for the base, the protochlorides, protoiodides, protobromides, protofluorides, protocyanides, and protosulphurets; particularly the double salts, formed of the metals with the cyanides of potassium, sodium, ammonium, barium, calcium, and strontium; and also the double salts, formed by adding these cyanides to other acid salts. Organic compounds may also be added, with advantage, to many solutions of metallic salts and compounds, and especially to the persalts, which, without such addition, would not, in many cases, readily yield a metallic deposit, but would deposit a subsalt, or intermediate compound. The patentee concludes with a list of the salts and compounds of metals applicable for the purposes of electro-deposition, but which have not hitherto been used: the metals, included in this list, are platinum, palladium, rhodium, iridium, gold, silver, mercury, copper, zinc, tin, nickel, and lead.

The patentee claims, as his invention, Firstly,-the improved method of constructing a galvanic battery, herein described; and the particular mode of placing or constructing the metal bars, connecting the cathode and anode plates, so that one plate can be readily removed or changed, without disturbing the remainder; also the mode of separating and arranging the porous cells in one frame, so that the whole can at once be removed. Secondly, the application of a galvanic battery for the purpose of cleaning the zinc and copper plates used in any battery; and for the purpose of depositing mercury upon the zinc plates. Thirdly, the application of the electrolytic fluids, mentioned in the third part of this invention, for the purpose of exciting an electric current, to be used in the deposition.

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of metal. Fourthly,- the use of what has been termed an "intensity arrangement," for the purpose of obtaining a good metallic deposit, consisting in the use of a galvanic battery, composed of more than ten pairs of plates. Fifthly, -the method of manufacturing works of art and other articles in silver, by depositing the metal upon moulds of wax, plaster of Paris, and other non-conducting or badlyconducting surfaces, by using a strong solution of cyanide of silver and potassium, prepared as hereinbefore described ; also the use of elastic moulds, for the purpose of producing casts, to be employed in the process of electro-deposition ; and also the peculiar method, described in the fifth part of this invention, of obtaining a deposit on badly-conducting surfaces. Sixthly,—the giving motion to the surface to be deposited upon, or to the electrolytic fluid in which such surface is immersed, during the period of electro-deposition. Seventhly, the application of the electro-deposition of metals and metallic alloys to the formation of the reflecting surfaces of parabolic and other reflectors and specula. Eighthly, the methods of depositing metallic alloys, hereinbefore described. Ninthly,-the method of preparing metallic surfaces for electro-deposition, by previously covering the same with a slight coating of metallic mercury. Tenthly, the method of arranging the articles to be deposited upon, so as to assist in generating and maintaining the galvanic current. Eleventhly, -the method, herein described, of depositing metals, by the aid of electrolytic solutions, not originally containing such metals, as component parts thereof, when in conjunction with a cathode of the metal to be deposited. Twelfthly,-the use of electro-deposition, when employing the cathodes herein. mentioned, as a means of manufacturing platinum and other metals from their respective ores. Thirteenthly,the application of electro-deposition to the manufacture of vessels and other articles of platinum; also the method, described under this part of the invention, of covering metal and other surfaces with platinum. Fourteenthly,the application of the compounds of the various metals, herein particularly set forth, as not having been heretofore

used for the purpose of the deposition of such metals.→ [Inrolled in the Inrolment Office, December, 1842.]

Since the inrolment of the above specification, the patentee has entered a Memorandum of Alteration, dated 25th March, 1843, for the purpose of correcting some clerical errors in that part of his fourteenth improvement which relates to the salts of silver. In three instances, the word " 'sulphate" is changed to "sulphite;" and, in one instance, "hyposulphite" is substituted for "hyposulphate;” and, lastly, "racinate," and "sulphoranate," are altered to "racemate," and "sulphorimate, or "sulphovinate."

TO PETER KAGEN BUSCH, late of the parish of Whitby, and now of Sandsend, in the parish of Lyth, in the county of York, dyer, for an improvement in the dyeing of wool, woollen cloths, cotton, silks, and other fabrics and materials.-[Sealed 26th May, 1842.]

THIS improvement consists in producing a mordant, to be used for fixing the colors in cloths, silks, &c., by operating upon the residual mother liquors of alum-works; that is to say, the mother liquor of the alum-meal, rough alum, or alum for rocking, from which the Epsom salts have been taken in one or more crops. The patentee uses the residual mother liquor of that manufacture in which muriate of potassa has been employed for the alkaline base, in preference to the mother liquor of that wherein sulphates are used; and he also prefers the liquor of the alum from the natural rock or schist, to the mother liquor of the rough alum, from what is generally termed the "artificial alum process."

The method of operating upon the residual mother liquor is as follows:-A solution of common salt or brine is added to the mother liquor, when boiling, for the purpose of neutralizing the sulphuric acid contained in it; the quantity of brine, to be added, depends entirely upon the

amount of sulphuric acid in the liquor; but, in general, a saturated solution of salt, equal in quantity to about onetwelfth of the mother liquor, will be found sufficient. The liquor is now ready to be used for dyeing all colors, with the exception of red; and if not sufficiently strong, it may be brought to the required strength by continued boiling and evaporation.

When the above product or mordant is to be conveyed from one place to another, it is boiled until sufficiently concentrated, and is then allowed to crystallize; the crystallized substance should be protected from the action of the atmosphere, and, when required for use, it is to be dissolved in water. In some cases, the solution of salt is added to the mother liquor, previous to taking the last crop of Epsom salts; that is, when boiling up for the last crop; when the salts have been removed, in the usual manner, the residual liquor is ready for use as a mordant.

The patentee claims the improvement in dyeing, by the use and application of the residual mother liquors of the alum works, and of the product obtained therefrom, as a mordant, as above described.-[Inrolled in the Inrolment Office, November, 1842.]

TO CHARLES SEARLE, of Bath, Gent .,for improved preparations of tea, coffee, cocoa, and milk.-[Sealed 9th June, 1842.]

THIS invention consists in a method of preparing milk for use on long voyages, &c.; and likewise in combining tea, coffee, and cocoa with milk.

The cream is first removed from the milk, and then the latter is put into a suitable vessel, with one-fortieth part of its weight of loaf sugar; and the aqueous matter, contained in it, is evaporated, by means of a water-bath, or any other suitable means of applying heat. Milk is thus obtained in a perfectly dry state, and may be preserved for a great length of time in closely stopped bottles or jars; the removal of the cream, previous to evaporation, having the

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