Page:History of the Royal Society.djvu/319

 lumps: moreover, the Flesh boyled in it becomes hard and reddish. The Springs rising out of large covered spaces (such as are great Cities) yield this Water, as having been percolated thorough more ground than other Water, and consequently been diverted of its fatty earthy particles, and more impregnated with saline substances in all the way it hath passed. The Dyers use this Water in Reds, and in other Colours wanting restringency, and in the dying of Materials of the slacker Contextures, as in Callico, Fustian, and the several species of Cotton-works. This Water is naught for Blues, and makes Yellows and Greens look rusty.

'River-water is far more fat and oily, sweeter, bears Soap; that is, Soap dissolves more easily in it, rising into froth and bubbles, so as the Water thickens by it. This Water is used in most cases by Dyers, and must be had in great quantities for washing and rinsing their Cloaths after Dying.

'Water is called by Dyers White Liquor; but there is another sort of Liquor called Liquor absolutely, and that is their Bran-liquor, which is one part of Bran and five of River-water, boyled together an hour, and put into leaden Cisterns to settle. This Liquor when it turns sour is not good; which sourness will be within three or four Days in the Summer-time. Besides the uses afore-named of this Liquor, I conceive it contributes something to the holding of the Colour; for we know Starch, which is nothing but the flour of Bran, will make a clinging Paste, the which will conglutinate some things, though not every thing; viz. Paper, though, neither Wood nor Metals. Now Bran-liquors are used to mealy dying Stuffs, such as Mather is, being Rh