An enumeration by Mr. Alfred Smee of the Bank of
England, of the manifold uses to which vegetable parchment may be applied—" for legal deeds, bank notes, policies of insurance, working plans, maps, account books, binding purposes, photography, culinary purposes, paper hang- ings, artist's drawings and paintings either in oil or water colour,"—has led us to examine very closely a specimen manufactured by the firm of De La Rue, who anticipate its acceptance by the public generally, when its very remarkable qualities are thoroughly known. Vegetable parchment is made from water leaf or unsized paper, of which ordinary blotting-paper is a common example, and it acquires its peculiar properties by being dipped in diluted sulphuric acid, the strength of which must be regulated to the greatest nicety. The name " Ametastine" is suggested, because the material of the surface thus metamorphosed is one of the most un- alterable and unchangeable of all organic substances, and its peculiarity requires a distinctive appellation.
Vegetable parchment is to be commended for its strength, toughness. flexibility, hardness and solidity of face, stiffness, elasticity, resistance to the action of water; for when dried it resumes its former condition • and indeed, in all cases where endurance for long periods is required, this ma- terial may be safely pronounced preeminently valuable. Gases pass through it in the same way as through animal membranes, whilst it resists the action of most chemicals, acids, and alkalies. It takes writing ink and dyes very readily, and, from its perfect surface, receives varnish without being sized in the first instance. The firm we have mentioned have brought the invention to its present state of perfection' though the merit of originality is due to Mr. Gaine, who first discovered this curious and important substitute both for parchment and paper.
The Court of Exchequer, meanwhile, is considering the question as to whether this material is to be taxed as parchment or paper.
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