Kislak Center Recipe Books

Arts and sciences; chemistry.

[England], 1777. Collection of recipes (numbered 1-253 with many errors) for alchemical and practical applications such as making candles, butter, varnish, many types of ink (including a recipe for "magic ink", p. 201), sealant for waterproofing shoes (p. 15), cement for mending broken china or glass (p. 205), and occasional medicinal uses such as preventing yellow fever (p. 158). Alchemical recipes include instructions for turning white sapphires into diamonds (p. 208), creating artificial diamonds (p. 193) and artificial pearls (p. 206), creating a powder that burns green (p. 160), and how to give new colors (p. 85) or new fragrances (p. 87) to flowers. Other instructions include a method for preserving animals such as dogs and horses at the size they were at birth (p. 183), purifying water (p. 15), sending secret letters written on the inside of an egg (p. 185-186), how to wash fleecy hosiery (p. 191), and predicting whether a sick person will live or die (p. 135). A printed clipping for how to grow radishes has been pasted in (p. 118) and a print of a plan for a smelting furnace has been laid into the manuscript. Also includes an alphabetical index (p. v-xxviii) and 7 leaves laid into the manuscript with additional recipes such as a remedy for scurvy and a recipe for iron gall ink. One leaf written in French for a recipe for magic ink (Gibraltar, 15 May 1795).

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Complete

p. 51

21 26 To make wood less combustible by Dr. [Hencholz?]

Soak the Wood in water, in wch [sic] equal parts of Common Salt & [Nitrine?] have been dissolv'd to Saturation. then dry the wood - which is afterwards fit for any use, & particularly for wainscoting to prevent the Effects of Fire.

This was tried by laying a Billet prepared as above upon the Fire which remained some time uninjured, and at last it was with some Difficulty consumed, or rather, or rather it mouldered into ashes but without emitting any Flame.

27 To make a sole for a shoe proof against water, the Abbe Bouleville

Take Filings of Cork, like sawdust as soon as the first sole is laid on, give it a covering with Glue, & press the cork filing upon it, & when dry give it another layer if Glue with a Brush, then another Layer of Cork & so on till it is an inch thick

Last edit almost 4 years ago by PattyGilson

Complete

p. 52

22 Then fasten on the 2nd sole with 2 nails, & beat it with a hammer till it is no thicker than a Crown Piece, wch will fasten the soles together & it is ready and heavier than a common shoe

38 The Virtues of Elder in Preserving Plants from Insects & flies.

Last edit almost 4 years ago by PattyGilson

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p. 53

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Last edit almost 4 years ago by amoah

Indexed

p. 54

24.

39. To make Copal Varnish

M [Cooalte?] A Gum Copal - melt it over as len Fire in a Copper or Cen Vessell - as soon as it is melted pour upon it [Tb?] of drying oil boiling hot - mix them well & take them from the Fire - When a little cool pour in Augua di Rosa [dbj?] of & mix it as [exferil?] [the?] Vanish is made.

40. From the same A Gold Varnish (upon?) Metal.

R. Gum [Loe?] [ounce] - Yellow Amber in Powder [ounce] - Dragons [Blid?] in Drops [zr?] 40 - Saprasn zys Alcohol [ounce]40 - Dryest then

Last edit almost 4 years ago by Kareobl

Indexed

p. 55

25 in Sand in a Glass Napoleon on a gentle heat, shaking it frequently - as soon as the [?] are melted, filter the liquor & keep it for use well [?]

41 The [true?] method of making the Varnish from the German To [?] in [?] sheet

R 4 oz of the best Copal in fine Powder, put it in an earthen or Glass Plate, sprinkle it with [?] of [?] Oil of Spike, mix them well together, & let them stand in a warm place till dry. Grind them well together till it looks like dry sand. Sprinkle [?] more of Spike Oil and do as before, & the oftener this is done the better the Copal will [dissolve?] Put it in a flask & pour on the best alcohol, & let it stand 24 Hours in a tolerable Heat or longer

Last edit almost 4 years ago by Kareobl

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