734 THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE. Book II.

acptic acid air and carbonic acid. It is by the latter process only that the resulting carbo-
nate of lead is obtained of that degreo of density, opacity, and perfect freedom from crys-
talline texture which fits it for paint. The last, called the Dutch process, was introduce
1
into England about 1780. White lead is often largely adulterated with sulphate of baryra>
which njay be detected by insolubility in dilute nitric acid, whereas pure white lead is
entirely dissolved by it. Fine lead is now made from slag lead, which is treated with
nitrate of soda, thus oxidising all impurities except copper. The same effect is acconii
plisi ed by calcining the lead in au improving furnace, especially when the lead contains
much antimony.
The copper is next removed by a process not yet published, and finally
the lead is crystallised by Pattinson's process. The resulting metal is remarkable for its
fine crystalline surface and bold columnar fracture. Lead containing even only '2.\ ounces
of copper per ton communicates a pink tint to the corrosions of white lead, which it is im-
portant to remove.
2272a. The ill effects on the constitution of persons engaged both in the manufacture
and use of the article have recently (since the publication of the first edition of this work)
induced the French chemists to find some less deleterious substitute for it, and M. de
Ruolz has discovered two substances which fulfil the required conditionsviz., combina-
tion with oil, good colour, property of concealing, &c. The first is an arsenical compound
(product) hitherto little known, which JVI. de Ruolz does not describe, because, although
inoifensive, it may be made, by very simple chemical reaction, to retake its poisonous
qualities, and be employed criminally. The second, which he considers well adapted fop
use, is the oxide of antimony, and possesses the following properties : its" colour is a very
pure white, rivalling the finest silver white
;
it is very easily ground, and forms with oil
an unctuous and cohesive mixture, comparatively with the white lead of Holland as 46
to
22;
mixed with other paints it gives much clearer and softer tones than white lead.
It may be obtained directly from the natural sulphuret of antimony, and at one third of
the cost of ordinary
white paint. (See Literary Gazette, Nov. 25, 1843.) If the finishing
colour is white, nothing but white lead should be employed.
22726. A new process of making white lead is that of H. J. B. and II. B. Condy, who
claim the following advantages : I. White lead of the finest colour and body can bo made
within seven dnys, instead of four to five months, as required by the ordinary process.
II. Old lead or any description of metallic lead can be used, all impurities beingremoved
by their process, instead of buying
"
refined pig lead
"
for the ordinary process. III. The
present uncertainty in composition is corrected by the now process, whicli is identical
time after time
; the covering properties are better. IV. The colour is preserved in
impure atmospliere. V. The absence of danger to workpeople, since nearly all the
operations are effected by machinery, instead of being handled at each stage in the
ordinary mode.
2272c. The other metallic white paint used is Hubbuck's patent zine white, known for
its intense whiteness, its resistance to sulphurous and other deteriorating causes, and its
harmless qualities to the painter and the inmates of the house under decoration. It is
requisite that the oil used should be as white as possible, that the brushes and pots should
not have been used for white lead, or else have been cleaned with spirits; and that driers
and colours with a lead basis should not be mixed with it. Zinc white possesses less
body than white lead, and great care is requisite that the colour when ground in oil is of
sufficient consistence to be laid on a flat surface without showing through; for in that
state any oil in excess will form a slight glutinous coating on the surface, retaining every
particle of dust brought in contact with it, until it has evaporated. Proper drying oils
will cause zinc white to dry as quickly as the other colour. With these precautions, a
few trials will enable any painter who is willing to work zinc white to overcome the diffi-
cult'es which appear at first to condemn the invention. It is asserted that in consequence
of the great durability of the colour of this material, a house painted with it may be
washed for a succession of three, four, or oven five years
;
and that after each successive
washing the surface will be found as clear and bright as when fresh painted. The effect,
in appearance, of this paint is perhaps better when it is applied as a finish to a coat ot
pure white lead; generally it looks better on new work than on old, as some specimens
prove that it was then apt to turn black. An American discovery consists in subjecting
the oxide of zinc, in its dry state, to the combined action of friction and pressure, by
which means its bulk is greatly reduced, and it is enabled to be ground with a reduced
quantity of oil, while a greater body is given to the paint. Hubbuck states that 2 cwt.
of his paint, with 6 gallons of oil, covers as much surface as 3 cwt. of white lead and
12 gallons of oil
; and that it is cheaper also than white lead.
2272<Z. Lead colours are formed by a mixture of white lead with lamp black; all
colours, however, that are CA\\ei\
fancy colours have white lead for their basis, chocolates,
black, brown, and wainscot only excepted. The fancy colours are drabs, French greys,
peach blossom, lilac, light greens, patent greens, blues, vermilion, l.ake, &c.
2273. There is a process used by painters termed clear-coleing, which is executed with
white lead ground in water, and mixed with size. This is used instead of a coat of paint
;