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To Polish Ivory

If ivory be polished with putty-powder and water, by means of a rubber made of hat, it will in a short time produce a fine gloss. Or, set the ivory in the turner's wheel, and, after having worked it, take some rushes and pumice-stone, mix a subtle powder with water, and rub till is rendered flexible by immersion in a solution it becomes perfectly smooth; then heat it by of pure phosphoric acid (specific gravity 1.13) turning it over a piece of linen or sheepskin until it loses, or partially loses its opacity, and when hot rub it with a little whitening when it is washed in clean cold water, and diluted with olive oil; then rub it with a little dried. In this state it is as flexible as leather, dry whitening alone, and finally with a pieco but gradually hardens by exposure to dry air. of soft white rag, and the ivory will look re- Immersion in hot water, however, restores its softness and pliancy. The following method may also be employed: Put the ivory to soak in 3 ounces nitric acid mixed with 15 ounces water. In 3 or 4 days the ivory will be soft.