COTTON

n. Ko2t'n. Gr., tpiov oirb fuAou. Ar., cot in. Heb., zemer. Lat., go ypium [U. S. Ph., Br. Ph.J. xylum [Fr. Cod.], go ypium depuratum [Ger. Ph.], lanugo (seu lana, seu pili) go ypii. Fr., cot on [Fr. Cod.]. Ger., Baumtrolle. It., cotone. Sp., algodon. The hairs of the seed of Go ypium barb a dense and other species of Go ypium deprived of impurities. It consists of fine, soft, white filaments, without odor or taste, insoluble in water, in alcohol, or in ether, soluble in strong alkaline solutions, and decomposed by the concentrated mineral acids. Chemically, it is identical with lignin, and, besides its chief constituent, cellulose, contains wax, a fatty acid, coloring matter, pectic acid, and an albuminoid substance. Official c. is prepared by boiling raw c. in a diluted alkaline solution, the soap which is formed through the union of the alkali with the fatty matter being di olved out by repeated washings. C. impregnated with almost any of the fixed oils will, if allowed to stand, take fire spontaneously. C., besides its use for fabricating cloth, is employed as a filtering medium, and is said to purify air which pa es through it by straining out the microscopic organisms that induce fermentation. It is applied as a dre ing for scalds, burns, wounds, etc., to absorb effused liquids, and to protect the affected parts from the air. It is also recommended as an external application in erysipelas and rheumatism. [B, 5 (a, 24).] Absorbent c. Lat., go ypium [U. S. Ph., Br. Ph.], go ypium depuratum [Ger. Ph.], go ypium purificatum. Fr., cot on hydrophile, cot on purifie. Ger., gereinigte Baumwolle. It., cotone a.isorbente. Sp., algodon absorvente. C. from which oil and all impurities have been removed; according to F. L. Slocum, made by boiling carded c. for half an hour with a 5-per-cent. solution of soda or caustic pota a, washing thoroughly, expre ing, boiling again for 15 or 20 minutes in a 5-per-cent. solution of alkali, washing well with water, acidulated water, and water, expre ing, and drying quickly. [B, 81 (a, 21).] Benzole c. A preparation made by immersing 1 kilogramme of clean absorbent c. in a solution of too; L-, blue; U3, lull; U, full, IP, urn; U, like ii (German,. [s. 425]