Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 4, 1802).djvu/117

so A or grey colour, intermixed with greenish or yellowish shades ; is composed of very fine particles; of a firm, equal, and regular texture j and is very heavy. Its surface is smooth and glossy ; it feels soft and greasy ; and neither melts in the mouth, nor adheres to the tongu,e, or stains the fingers. This mineral may be formed in- to a paste with water, which is easily worked on the potter's wheel ; and if, thus manufactur- ed, it be exposed to an intense heat, it becomes so hard as to emit fire, when stricken against steel. The soap-earth possesses simi- lar properties with FuUer's-eartb, and is employed for the purpose of cleansing woollen cloths from grease : it does not, however, work so easily as clays j and, when digested with vitriolic acid, it forms a salt somewhat resembling that obtained by evaporating Ep- soni-watcr. SOAP-WORT, the Commok, or Bruisewort, Saponaria offici- nalis, L. a native perennial, grow- ing in meadows and hedges ; flow- ering in July and August. — The leaves possess a disagreeable bitter taste : if bruised and agitated with water, they produce a saponaceous froth, which may serve for remov- ing greasy spots from linen, as well as woollen cloths ; but it discharges no colours. — The roots are some- what pungent, have a sweetish taste, and in smell resemble those of li(lQorice : a strong tincture may be prepared, by digesting them in rectified spirits. — In medicine, this plant is now exploded ; but, in do- mestic economy, the sap expressed from the root, stalk, and leaves, may be employed as a substitute for soap, in cleansing raw or coarse cloth, and likewise for fine linen, NO, Kill. VOL. IV. SOD [97 In the washing of which, it will save at least one-half of that ex- pensive article, otherwise required, — Lastly, the admirers of winged insefts may catch the most beau- tiful butterflies on the flowers of the common soap- wort, which are visited by them during twilight. SODA, Fossil, or Mineral Alkali, a peculiar salt, which is found native in various parts of the world ; but, as the quantity thus obtained, is inadequate to its exten- sive consumption, various methods have been devised, for procuring it from sea-salt; and also by the burning of the salt-wort, together with other saline plants, which grow in the vicinity of the sea-coast. — See Barilla, and Fossil Al- kali. Few articles are of greater im- portance to the arts, manufactures, and domestic economy, than soda. It is indispensably necessary for making hard soap ; and also forms an excellent substitute for this ar- ticle ; as four ounces of the for- mer, and six of the latter, are fully equal to 10 ounces, or one pound of soap, for cleansing 14lbs. of cloth, by hand ; while it softens the hardest water : thus, a saving will arise in the expence of from one- third to one-half, accordingly as that operation is performed by the hand, or by machines. — The su- perior etfefts of soda are fully evin- ced in the cleansing ot fleecy ho- siery, flannels, or worsted stock- ings ; which, when managed with warm water, soap, and pot-ash, acquire an unpleasant odour, and are apt to shrink, in consequence of the rubbing, particulaily if they be immersed in cold water : where- as, by using the fossil alkali, these inconveniencies are said to be com- pletely avoided, and neither the H quality