Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XV.djvu/147

 SOAPSTONE SOCIALISM 139 in chemical combination. Soap is perfectly )luble in alcohol and hot water, but both so- lutions solidify to a jelly at a certain stage of mcentration. Opodeldoc is soap mixed with Icohol in this state, to which camphor is add- Cold water does not dissolve the alka- ine oleates, palmitates, and stearates which stitute ordinary soap, without decomposi- tion, the alkali being dissolved and the oily id precipitated ; and when hot solutions are )olecl the same action takes place. Soap is lite insoluble in a solution of common salt mtaining more than one part in 400 of water, that on the addition of salt to the contents a soap pan, a curd consisting of a solid >ap will rise to the surface, while the alka- le salts and glycerine remain dissolved in the rater. Some soaps, as those made from co- mut oil, are not so easily separated from leir solutions by common salt. Other chlo- ides, as those of potassium and ammonium (sal ammoniac), have a similar action to that common salt. Soaps are scented and col- 3d by mixing coloring matter and volatile )ils or odorous matters with them. They are letimes medicated with antiseptic and oth- substances, such as creosote, carbolic acid, ilorate of potash, and sulphur, and are used detergents and in skin diseases. Arsenic sometimes added to soap and used by tax- lermists in preserving their preparations, lose medicinal preparations called liniments soaps whenever they are made by the mix- ire of an alkali or an alkaline earth with an il. Silicate of sodium (soluble glass) may be lixed with soap and used with advantage as a nnestic cleansing agent. Soaps mixed with le sand or pumice stone do not possess the le detergent properties, but are useful for >uring. The manufacture of soap is more )ly carried on in Great Britain than in any ler country, although great quantities of )ilet soaps are made in France, especially for le American market. The annual product Great Britain is often considerably over ),000,000 Ibs. The manufacture is also ear- on to a considerable extent in the United ites, and some fine toilet and other soaps made. The history of soap may be found Beckmann's "History of Inventions;" its inology in Parnell's " Chemistry applied to the Arts," Knapp's "Chemical Technology," Wagner's " Chemical Technology," Muspratt's " Chemistry," Morfit's " Applied Chemistry in the Manufacture of Soaps and Candles," and in "A General Treatise on the Manufacture of Soap," by H. Dussauce (8vo, Philadelphia, 1869). The French manufacture is described in one of the Manuels Eoret entitled Nouveuu mamiel theorique et pratique du savonier, on VArt de faire toutes sortes de savons (Paris, 1852). SOAPSTONE. See TALC. SOBIESKI. See JOHN III. SOBIESKI. SOCIALISM, the doctrine that society ought to be reorganized on more harmonious and equitable principles. Communism and coop- eration are its principal divisions or varieties. Communism and socialism are sometimes used as synonymous ; but generally the former term specially refers to the plans of social reform based on or embracing the doctrine of a com- plete community of goods. Cooperation is understood to be that branch of socialism which is engaged exclusively with theories of labor and methods of distributing profits, and which advocates a combination of many to gain advantages not to be reached by indi- viduals. Viewed as a whole, socialistic doc- trines have dealt with everything that enters into the life of the individual, the family, the church, or the state, whether industrially, mor- ally, or spiritually. The origin of all is to be sought in the desire to ameliorate the con- dition of the less favored classes, and in the attempt to overcome by association the dep- rivations to which individuals, especially those without rank, culture, and capital, are ex- posed. After many experimental attempts in recent times to effect a radical modification of society in all its parts, the simplified socialism of the present day mostly aims only to pro- tect the laborer in his rights, or to shield him against the oppression of capitalists. The his- tory of socialism runs parallel with that of property. Wherever the power of individual proprietors became oppressive, communistic doctrines usually arose. Such was the origin of the schemes of the ancient Greeks. Pha- leas of Chalcedon expected gradually to re- move the disparities of property by making a law that the rich should give but not re- ceive dower in marriage ; and in order that none should be intellectually superior to oth- ers, he desired that all should receive the same education. Plato's ideal republic was to con- sist of three classes : the educated, who are the law makers and rulers ; the common peo- ple, including agriculturists and other labor- ers ; and the soldiers. The state was to assign to every one his rank and sphere of activity; the soil was to be the property of all, and its fruits were to be equally shared by all. The women also were to be common property, as well as the slaves. Communistic doctrines more or less evolved from peculiar religious views, and advocating the founding of isolated communes, existed among the ancient Hindoos and Egyptians. Among the earliest attempts at socialistic life was that of the Jewish sect known as the Essenes, who had established themselves on the western shores of the Dead sea about the 2d century B. C. Though there are few trustworthy accounts of their teach- ings and practices, it may be accepted as cer- tain that they held their property in common, and discountenanced marriage, without really prohibiting it. (See ESSENES.) The Carpo- cratians, an early Christian sect, which con- tinued to exist until the middle of the 6th century, also practised community of goods and of women. Many features of the monas-