太子爷小说网 > 英语电子书 > forty centuries of ink >

第38节

forty centuries of ink-第38节

小说: forty centuries of ink 字数: 每页4000字

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!




occupy hundreds of pages。 Those cited are exemplars

indicating the trend of ideas belonging to different

nations; epochs; and the diversity of materials。 They

can also be considered as object lessons which conclusively

demonstrate the dissatisfaction always existing

in respect to the constitution and modes of ink admixture。

Many of them are curious and are reproduced

without any amendments。



〃Indian ink is a black pigment brought hither

from China; which on being rubbed with water;

dissolves; and forms a substance resembling ink;

but of a consistence extremely well adapted to the

working with a pencil…brush; on which account it

is not only much used as a black colour in miniature

painting; but is the black now generally made

use of for all smaller drawings in chiaro obscuro

(or where the effect is to be produced from light

and shade only)。



〃The preparation of Indian ink; as well as of

the other compositions used by the Chinese as

paints; is not hitherto revealed on any good authority;

but it appears clearly from experiments

to be the coal of fish bones; or some other vegetable

substance; mixed with isinglass size; or other

size; and most probably; honey or sugar candy to

prevent its cracking。 A substance; therefore; much

of the same nature; and applicable to the same

purposes; may be formed in the following manner。



〃Take of isinglass six ounces; reduce it to a

size; by dissolving it over the fire in double its

weight of water。 Take then of Spanish liquorice

one ounce; and dissolve it also in double its weight

of water; and grind up with it an ounce of ivory

black。 Add this mixture to the size while hot;

and stir the whole together till all the ingredients

be thoroughly incorporated。 Then evaporate away

the water in baleno mariae; and cast the remaining

composition into leaden molds greased; or make

it up in any other form。〃



〃The colour of this composition will be equally

good with that of the Indian ink: the isinglass

size; mixt with the colours; works with the pencil

equally well with the Indian ink; and the Spanish

liquorice will both render it easily dissolvable on

the rubbing with water; to which the isinglass alone

is somewhat reluctant; and also prevent its cracking

and peeling off from the ground on which it is

laid。〃

 *   *    *    *    *    *    *



There is found in small currents near the Baltick

Sea; in the Dutchy of Prussia a certain coagulated

bitumen; which; because it seems to be a juice

of the earth is called succinum; and carabe; because

it will attract straws; it is likewise called electrum;

glessum; anthra citrina; vulgarly yellow amber。



〃This bitumen being soft and viscous; several

little animals; such as flies; and ants; do stick to it;

and are buried in it。



〃Amber is of different colours; such as white;

yellow and black。



〃The white is held in greatest esteem in physick;

tho' it be opacous; when it is rubbed against anything;

it is odoriferous; and it yields more volatile

salt than the rest。 The yellow; is transparent and

pleasant to the eye; wherefore beads; necklaces;

and other little conceits are made of it。 It is also

esteemed medicinal; and it yieldeth much oil。



〃The black is of least use of all。 (Sometimes

used by the ancients in making ink。)



〃Some do think that petroleum; or Oil of Peter;

is a liquor drawn from amber; by the means of subterrenean

fires; which make a distillation of it; and

that jet; and coals are the remainders of this distillation。



〃This opinion would have probability enough in

it; if the places; from whence this sort of drogues

does come; were not so far asunder the one from

the other; f or petroleum is not commonly found but

in Italy; in Sicily; and Provence。 This oil distils

through the clefts of rocks; and it is very likely to

be the oil of some bitumen; which the subterranean

fires have raised。〃

 *   *    *    *    *    *    *



There are various processes for obtaining gallic

acid; one of which is to moisten the bruised

galls and expose them for four or five weeks to a

temperature of 80 degrees Fahr。; by which a mouldy

paste is formed; which is pressed dry and then digested

in boiling water; which after evaporation

yields the acid; and mixed with the solution of

green copperas; makes the; ink。 A quicker process;

however; is to put the bruised galls into a cylindrical

copper of a depth equal to its diameter; and

boil them in nine gallons of watertaking care to

replace the water lost by evaporation。 The decoction

to be emptied into a tub; allowed to settle;

and the clear liquid being drawn off; the lees are

emptied into another tub to be drained。 The green

copperas must be separately dissolved in water;

and then mixed with the decoction of the galls。 A

precipitate is then formed in the state of a fine

black powder; the subsidence of which is prevented

by the addition of the gum; which; separately dissolved

in a small quantity of hot water; combines

with the clear black liquid。 Besides its effect in

keeping the fine insoluble particles in suspension;

the gum mucilage improves the body of the ink;

prevents its spreading or sinking too much into

the paper in writing; and also acts beneficially by

forming a sort of compact varnish in it; which

tends to preserve its colour; and shield it from the

action of the air。 If; however; too much mucilage

is used; the ink flows badly from quill pens; and

still more so from steel pens; which require a very

limpid ink。 The addition of sugar increases the

fluidity of ink; and permits the quantity of gum to

be increased over what it would bear without it;

but; on the other hand; it causes it to dry more

slowly; and besides it frequently passes into vinegar;

when it acts injuriously on the pens。 The dark…

coloured galls; known as the blue Aleppo ones; are

said by Ribaucourt; and others who have given

much attention to the ingredients for ink…making

to be the best for that purpose; and they are

generally used by the best makers。



〃From their high price; however; and that of

galls generally; sumach; logwood; and even oak

bark are too frequently substituted in the manufacture

of inks; but it need scarcely be said always

injuriously。 Ink made according to the receipt

given above is much more rich and powerful than

many of those commonly made。 To reduce it to

their standard one half more water may be safely

added; or even twenty gallons of tolerable ink may

be made from the same weight of materials。

Sumach and logwood admit of only about one…half

or less of the green copperas that galls will take;

to bring out the maximum amount of black colour。

The colour of black ink gradually darkens in

consequence of the peroxidation of the iron in it on

exposure to the air; but it affords a more durable

writing when used pale; its particles being then

finer; penetrate the paper more intimately; and on

its oxidation is mordanted into it。 It is advisable

so soon as the ink has acquired a moderately deep

tint; to draw it off clear into bottles and cork them

well。



〃According to the most accurate experiments

on the preparation of black writing inks; it appears

that the proportion of the green copperas ought to

be; and not to exceed; a third of the decoction of

galls used; but the proportions used vary according

to the practical experience of ink…makers; who

have all receipts of their own; which they deem

best; and; of course; keep secret。 In the precipitate

an excess of colouring matter; which is necessary

for its durability; is preserved in it。 The

blue galls alone ought to be employed in making

the best quality of black ink。 Logwood is a useful。

ingredient; because its colouring matter unites

with the sulphate of iron and renders it not only of

a very dark colour; but also less capable of change

from the action of acids or of the atmosphere。

Many attempts have been made by amateurs to

make a good permanent black ink。 A good story

is told of Professor Traill。 He had succeeded;

after a long series of experiments; in producing an

ink which he deemed to be in all respects A 1;

and which resisted the action of all acids and

alkalies alike。 The pleased savant sent samples

of it for trial to several banks and schools; where

it gave general satisfaction; but; alas; an experimenting

scribbler; thoughtlessly or otherwise; applied

a simple test undreamt of by the Professor;

and with a wet sponge completely washed off his

'indelible;' and thereby finished his career as an

amateur ink…maker!〃

 *   *    *    *    *    *    *



〃Nicholson; in his Dictionary of Chemistry; an

old but valuable work; says that Ribaucourt found

vitriol of copper; in a certain proportion; to give

depth and firmness to the colour of black ink;

but; from whatever cause; this has not taken a

place among the commonly…used ink…maki

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的