Amalgam, Elec′trical

Prep. 1. Take zinc and grain-tin, of each, 1 oz. ; melt them in an iron ladle, remove it from the fire, and add of mercury (hot), 3 oz. ; stir the whole well together with an iron rod, pour it into a well-chalked wooden box, and agitate it violently until cold; or, instead of this, it may be briskly stirred until cold, and then powdered. It should be preserved in a corked gla bottle. 2. (La Baumé.) Zinc, 2 oz. ; grain-tin, 1 oz. ; bees’ wax, 1 ⁄ 2 oz. ; melt, add of mercury, 6 oz. , and otherwise proceed as before. Preferred by some to all other mixtures. 3. Zinc, 2 oz. ; mercury, 5 oz. Use. To cover the cushions of electrical machines. A little of the powder is poured on a piece of paper, crushed smooth with a flat knife, and then spread thinly on the surface of the cushion or rubber, previously slightly smeared with tallow; or the powder may be rubbed down with a little tallow, prior to the application of it.