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The Probert Encyclopaedia of General Information

GLUE

Glue is an adhesive substance made by boiling animal hides, hooves or bones. Glue consists of gelatine and chondrin, the proportions defining the adhesive qualities of the glue. Glue made from skins is superior to that made from bones, and the best glue is called 'Scotch glue'.

During the Victorian period large quantities of glue were produced from the skins of sheep, calves, cows, hares, dogs, cats, etc, from the refuse of tanneries and tawing works, from old gloves, from sinews, tendons, and other offal of animal origin.

By a process of cleaning and boiling the albuminoid elements of the animal matter are changed into gelatine. This in a soft jelly-like state constitutes size; dried into hard, brittle, glassy cakes, which before use must be melted in hot water, it formed the common glue used by joiners, etc during the Victorian period. When a solution is mixed with acetic or nitric acid it remains liquid, but still retains its power of cementing; in this state it is called liquid glue. Marine Glue is a cement made by dissolving india-rubber in oil of turpentine or coal-naphtha, to which an equal quantity of shellac is added.
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