Cooley's Cyclopaedia of Practical Receipts Volume I Part 90

On the large scale, the whole manual process, from preparing the dough to the point at which the newly-made biscuits are ready for baking is now generally performed by machinery. The articles so prepared are commonly known in trade as 'MACHINE-MADE BISCUITS,' and are not only much cheaper, but of fully equal quality to those 'made by hand.' In the bakehouses of her Majesty's Victualling Yards at Deptford, Gosport, and Plymouth, the ingenious machinery invented by Mr T. T. Grant is employed. These establishments are said to be capable of producing annually above 8000 tons of sea-biscuits, at a saving of upwards of 12,000_l._ a year, from the cost that would have been incurred for the purpose on the old system.

Under the latter it is stated that wages, and wear and tear of utensils, cost about 1_s._ 6_d._ per cwt. of biscuit; whilst under the new system the cost is only 5_d._

The allowance of biscuit to each seaman in the royal navy is 1 _lb._ per day; or, on the average, six biscuits.

=Biscuits Depuratifs= (Olivier) are made with meal, milk, and sugar. Each biscuit contains 1 centigramme corrosive sublimate. (Foy.)

=Biscuits, Fancy.= The varieties of these are almost innumerable. In a printed list now before us we observe the names of upwards of one hundred different kinds. These are produced by varying the number and proportions, of the ingredients used in their composition, and the form and size in which they are turned out of hand. They are further modified by the relative heat of the oven, as well as the length of time they are allowed to remain in it. It would, therefore, be waste of s.p.a.ce to give particular directions for the preparation of each. The proportion of b.u.t.ter and sugar, or either of them, may be from 1 _oz._ and upwards, to flour, 1 _lb._; according to the degree of richness desired. In a few cases milk, or eggs, or both, are introduced. The 'flavourings' embrace a wide range of substances--bitter almonds, caraways, ca.s.sia, cinnamon, ginger, mace, nutmeg, lemon, orange-peel, orange-flower water, essence of peach kernels, vanilla, &c., &c.; many of which give their name to the biscuit.--AR'ROW-ROOT BISCUITS are usually made of equal parts of arrow-root and flour; MEAT'-BISCUITS, from about 1 part of lean meat (minced small and pulped) beaten to a dough with about 2 parts of flour, and a little seasoning, no water being added;[180] SODA BISCUITS, by adding 1 to 2 _dr._ of carbonate of soda to each _lb._ of flour. In most other cases, the mere inspection of the biscuit will convey to the experienced biscuit-baker and cook sufficient information to enable him to produce an exactly similar one, or at least a very close imitation. The richest kind of SPONGE-BISCUITS, as we are informed, are made as follows:--Add the whites and yelks of 12 eggs, previously well beaten, to 1-1/2 _lb._ of finely powdered sugar, and whisk it until it rises in bubbles, then add 1 _lb._ of the finest pastry-flour, and the grated rind of 2 lemons. Put it into 'shapes,' sift a little sugar over them, and bake them in b.u.t.tered tin moulds, in a moderately quick oven, for nearly half an hour.[181]

[Footnote 180: For the MEAT-BISCUITS used in the navy, and by travellers, see MEAT.]

[Footnote 181: A few fancy biscuits will be found noticed in their alphabetical places. See CRACKNELS, MACAROONS, &c.]

=Biscuits Purgatifs= (Caroz). Each biscuit contains 2 decigrammes scammony. (Reveil.)

=Biscuits Purgatifs= (Sulot). Each biscuit contains 6 decigrammes scammony.

=Biscuits Purgatifs et Vermifuges= (Ferd. Graf, Aschbach) contain 1/4 gramme resina scammonii in each.

=Biscuits Purgatifs et Vermifuges au Calomel= (Sulot). There are 3 decigrammes of calomel in each. (Reveil.)

=Biscuits Vermifuges a la Santonine= (Sulot.) Each biscuit contains 5 centigrammes of san tonin. (Reveil.)

BISCUITS, DEV'ILED, in _cookery_, are captain's biscuits (or any similar kind) b.u.t.tered on both sides, peppered well, and then covered on one side with a slice of good cheese formed into a paste with made mustard; the whole being seasoned with a little cayenne pepper is, lastly, grilled.

Chopped anchovies, or essence of anchovies, is a good addition.

=BIs.m.u.tH.= Bi. BIs.m.u.tH, ETAIN DE GLACE, Fr.; BIs.m.u.tH, WIs.m.u.tH, W.-METALL, Ger. One of the metals.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Bis.m.u.th furnace in section.

_a_, Eliquation-tube.[182]

_b_, End at which it is charged.

_c_, End from which the metal flows.

_d_, Receiving-pan.

_e_, Water-trough.

_f_, Grate, &c.[183]

_g, g_, Draught-holes.]

[Footnote 182: Several of these tubes are usually set side by side together.]

[Footnote 183: Usually one to each eliquation-tube.]

_Sources._ Bis.m.u.th occurs in the mineral kingdom in the metallic state (NA'TIVE BIs.m.u.tH), and in combination with sulphur (BIS'MUTHINE), and with oxygen (B. O'CHRE, &c.). That of commerce is mostly imported from Saxony, where it is chiefly obtained from native bis.m.u.th by the simple process of eliquation. The ore, sorted by hand from the gangue, and broken into pieces of about the size of nuts, is introduced into the ignited iron pipes of the furnace (see _engr._) until these latter are filled to about one half their diameter and to three fourths of their length. From these the liquefied metal is allowed to flow into iron pans containing some coal-dust, and from these into a trough of water, in which it is granulated and cooled. It is subsequently remelted and cast into moulds so as to form 'bars' varying in weight from 25 to 56 _lbs._ each. In this state it usually contains a small admixture of a.r.s.enic, iron, lead, and sulphur; from the first of which it may be freed by exposure for some time, under charcoal, at a dull red heat. It is best obtained in a pure condition by heating to redness, in a covered crucible, a mixture of oxide, or subnitrate of bis.m.u.th, with half its weight of charcoal.

_Prop._ Colour greyish-white with a reddish tint; crystalline; very brittle (may be powdered); melts at about 480 Fahr., and does not re-solidify until cooled to 6 or 7 below this point; it volatilises at a strong heat, and, in close vessels, the fumes condense unchanged in crystalline laminae; little acted on by the air, but when exposed to it at a high temperature burns with a faint blue flame, emitting yellow fumes which condense into a yellow pulverulent oxide; when slowly cooled, in large ma.s.ses, it forms large cubic crystals or octahedrons of great beauty; nitric acid, somewhat dilute, dissolves it freely. It is highly diamagnetic. Sp. gr. 98 to 983, which, by careful hammering, may be increased to 98827. A bar of bis.m.u.th, when heated from 32 to 212, expands exactly 1/710 in length.

_Uses, &c._ Bis.m.u.th enters into the composition of STEREOTYPE-METAL, SOLDER, PEWTER, FUSIBLE METALS, and several other alloys. Added to other metals it renders them more fusible. An alloy of tin, nickel, bis.m.u.th, and silver is said to hinder iron from rusting. A mixture of bis.m.u.th, lead, and tin is much employed for taking impressions from dies, forming moulds, and for other purposes.

Bis.m.u.th salts are usually insoluble, or decomposed by any quant.i.ty of water into free acid and a basic salt. They are nearly all colourless, and, except the chloride, more volatile. They are easily recognised by the following reactions:--

Their saturated or concentrated solutions giving a white precipitate on dilution with water:--Sulphuretted hydrogen blackens them, or gives a black precipitate:--The nitric solution is unaffected by the addition of sulphuric acid:--Chromate of pota.s.sium gives a yellow precipitate, which differs from that from lead, by being soluble in nitric acid, and insoluble in pota.s.sa.

Von Kobbell takes a mixture of pota.s.sium iodide and flowers of sulphur in equal proportions, and heats the whole on charcoal before the blowpipe; the production of bright scarlet, very volatile bis.m.u.th iodide ensues, even when only traces of bis.m.u.th are present.

For a method of volumetrically estimating bis.m.u.th, consult a paper by Mr Pattison Muir, in the 'Journal of the Chemical Society,' April, 1876.

=Bis.m.u.th, Car'bonate.= (Ph. B.) Mix nitric acid, four fluid ounces, with three fluid ounces of distilled water, and add in successive portions purified bis.m.u.th, in small pieces, two ounces. When effervescence has ceased apply for ten minutes a heat approaching ebullition; then decant the solution from any insoluble matter. Evaporate to two fluid ounces, and add this in small quant.i.ties at a time to a cold filtered solution of six ounces of carbonate of ammonia, in two pints of distilled water, constantly stirring. Collect precipitate on a calico filter; wash till washings pa.s.s tasteless. Remove water by slight pressure of the hands, and dry at a heat not exceeding 150.--_Dose_, 5 to 20 grains.

=Bis.m.u.th, Chlorides of:=

=Basic Chlo"ride.= Bi_{3}Cl_{8}. _Syn._ SUBCHLO"RIDE OF BIs.m.u.tH, PEARL'-POWDER; BISMU'THI SUBCHLORI'DUM, L. _Prep._ A dilute solution of hydrochloric acid is dropped into another of bis.m.u.th (prepared by dissolving that metal in nitric acid); and the resulting precipitate, after being well washed in pure water, is dried in the shade.--_Prop., Uses, &c._ Similar to those of the subnitrate.

=Chlo"ride.= BiCl_{3}. _Syn._ TERCHLO"RIDE OF BIs.m.u.tH. _Prep._ A mixture of corrosive sublimate, 2 parts; bis.m.u.th, 1 part; (both in powder) is exposed to heat until all the 'mercury' present is expelled, after which it is at once put into bottles. A greyish-white, granular substance.

=Bis.m.u.th, Nitrates of=:

=Basic, Nitrate.= BiONO_{3}. _Syn._ PEARL-WHITE, BIs.m.u.tH SUBNITRATE; BIs.m.u.tHI SUBNITRAS, B. BIs.m.u.tHI NITRAS, L.; BLANC DE FARD, B. D'ESPAGNE*, &c., Fr.; PERLWEISS, SCHMINKWEISS, &c., Ger. _Prep._ Bis.m.u.th, 1 oz.; nitric acid, 1-1/2 fl. oz.; distilled water, 3 pints; mix 1 fl. oz. of the water with the acid, and dissolve the bis.m.u.th in the mixture; throw the solution into the remainder of the water, and, after repose, pour off the supernatant liquor, drain the powder that has subsided on a linen cloth, wash it with distilled water, and dry it with a gentle heat.

_Prop._ A pearly white, inodorous powder, insoluble in water, but freely soluble in nitric acid; long exposure to a strong light turns it greyish.

When prepared from a neutral solution, it consists of very fine microscopic crystalline laminae; but when prepared from acid solutions, with less water, the crystals are acicular, and more silky and l.u.s.trous.

When moistened it exhibits an acid reaction with litmus paper.

_Pois., &c._ Like the other salts of bis.m.u.th, it causes vomiting, purging, giddiness, cramp, insensibility, &c. No certain antidote is known. The treatment may consist of an emetic, followed by the copious use of emollient drinks, as weak broth, barley water, milk and water, &c.; and subsequently, when necessary to prevent inflammation, by a low diet and aperients.

_Uses, &c._ In _medicine_, as a sedative, an astringent, or tonic, and an antispasmodic, in chronic affections of the stomach unaccompanied by organic disease of that organ, and apparently of a nervous character; particularly in gastrodynia, troublesome sickness and vomiting, pyrosis or waterbrash, and generally in gastro-intestinal affections attended with fluxes; also in intermittent fever, spasmodic asthma, &c.--_Dose_, 5 to 10, or even 20 gr.

Externally, made into an ointment with 4 parts of lard, it has long been employed in certain chronic skin diseases. Under the name of PEARL-WHITE it is commonly used by ladies as a cosmetic; but it is stated that it injures the skin, producing, after a time, paralysis of its minute vessels, rendering it yellow and leather-like--an effect which, unfortunately, it is usually attempted to conceal by its freer and more frequent application. In very large doses it is poisonous.

Both the basic nitrate and the basic chloride of bis.m.u.th pa.s.s under the names of PEARL-WHITE and PEARL-POWDER, owing to their extreme whiteness and beauty. That of the druggists, however, is usually the former; that of the perfumers usually the latter, but not unfrequently both.

=Bis.m.u.th Powder=, for beautifying the skin and removing freckles. (From North America.) Consists of calcium carbonate, with much clay, and is free from injurious metals. (Chandler.)

=Bis.m.u.th, Purified.= (Ph. Br.) Put bis.m.u.th, 10 ounces, and 1 ounce of powdered nitrate of potash, into a crucible, and heat them until both are fused. Continue the heat, constantly stirring, for fifteen minutes, or till the salt has solidified into a slag above the metal. Remove the salt, add nitrate of potash, 1 ounce, to bis.m.u.th in crucible, and repeat the process. Pour the fused bis.m.u.th into a suitable mould, and let it cool.

=Nitrate.= Bi(NO_{3})_{3}. _Syn._ NEUTRAL NITRATE, TERNITRATE. Purified bis.m.u.th (in small fragments), 2 oz.; nitric acid, 6 oz.; dissolve with heat, adding more acid, if necessary, to effect entire solution of the metal; to the resulting solution add half its volume of distilled water, filter through powdered gla.s.s, and evaporate until crystals form.

_Use._ Chiefly in chemistry, and as a source of the pure oxide and the subnitrate.

=Bis.m.u.th Oxides=:--

=Bis.m.u.thous Oxide.= Bi_{2}O_{3}. _Syn._ TEROXIDE OF BIs.m.u.tH, PROTOXIDE OF BIs.m.u.tH. From either the neutral or the basic nitrate, by exposure, in a crucible, to gentle ignition. Pure. A straw-yellow powder, of rather difficult solubility.

HY'DRATED:--By gradually dropping an acid solution of bis.m.u.thous nitrate into a concentrated solution of pota.s.sium hydrate perfectly free from carbonic acid, and washing and drying the resulting precipitate. Pure. A rich-looking white powder.

_Prop., &c._ Fuses at a high temperature, and then acts as a powerful flux on siliceous matter without itself imparting colour, a property of which the enameller and gilder has long availed himself. Like the basic nitrate, it has been used as an antispasmodic and as a cosmetic. Sp. gr. 8211 to 8355.

=Bis.m.u.thic Oxide.= Bi_{2}O_{5}. _Syn._ BIs.m.u.tHIC ANHYDRIDE, BIs.m.u.tHIC ACID. Suspend teroxide of bis.m.u.th in a strong solution of pota.s.sa, and pa.s.s chlorine through the mixture until decomposition is complete; treat the powder with dilute nitric acid (to remove any undecomposed teroxide), after which wash it in cold water, and dry it.

_Prop., &c._ A reddish powder, soluble in water. Its salts, of which little are known, are called BIS'm.u.t.h.aTES. When heated it loses oxygen, and a bism.u.t.h.ate of bis.m.u.th is formed.