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To bleach Wool

The first kind of bleaching to which wool is subjected, is to free it from grease. This operation is called scouring. In manufactories, it is generally performed by an ammoniacal ley, formed of five measures of river water and one of stale urine; the wool is immersed for about twenty minutes in a bath of this mixture, heated to fifty six degrees; it is then taken out, suffered to drain, and then rinsed in running water: this manipulation softens the wool, and gives it the first degree of whiteness, it is then repeated a second, and even a third time, after which the wool is fit to be employed. In some places scouring is performed with water slightly impregnated with sop; and, indeed, for valuable articles, this process is preferable, but it is too expensive for articles of less value.

Sulphuric acid gas unites very easily with water, and in this combination it may be employed for bleaching wool and silk.