NORMAL or plain collodion is a solution of pyroxyline in a mixture of ether and alcohol, ready for being iodized or bromo-iodized.

This sort of collodion when preserved in well corked bottles becomes clearer with age, and the sediment occupies continually less space. After it has stood for a week or two, the clear supernatant solution is decanted by means of a syphon, syringe, or stop-cock from the residue of undissolved pyroxyline beneath, and again put aside to settle. There is no fixed rule, arising from chemical equivalents or combining proportions, by which to institute a fixed formula for the preparation of normal or plain collodion. I have selected those which may be relied upon. Take of ether, specific gravity, .715 Take of Alcohol, (absolute,) In another vessel shake together thoroughly-Alcohol, (absolute,) Pyroxyline 850 parts. 45 parts 1000 parts by weight. 1000 parts by weight.

As soon as the pyroxyline is completely covered and saturated with the alcohol, add the mixture of alcohol and ether, and shake well until the cotton has completely disappeared. Cork the vessel carefully, which is supposed to be full, and put it aside in a cool, dark place for a week or two, as before directed. If a glutinous collodion, or a collodion with more body be desired, such as is required in the transfer of the collodion film upon glazed leather, etc., as much as fifty parts of pyroxyline may be dissolved in the above proportions of alcohol and ether; on the contrary, if a thin collodion be required for the flowing of large plates, the proportion may be as low as thirty-six or forty parts of the prepared cotton. Normal collodion for present use may be filtered; but it is far from being as pure by filtration as by subsidence. Filters for such purposes may be procured of the photographic establishments, by which the filtration proceeds without the contents coming in contact with the atmosphere. The above proportions are for the preparation of what is denominated alcohol collodion, which produces a soft, short, and structureless film on the glass plate. Bromo-iodizing Solutions for the same. Take of Alcohol, (absolute,) Take of Iodide of sodium, Take of Iodide of cadmium, Take of Bromide of cadmium, Or, 100 parts. 8 parts 3 parts 4 parts

Take of Alcohol, (absolute,) Take of Iodide of lithium, Take of Bromide of lithium, Or, Take of Alcohol, (absolute,) Take of Iodide of lithium, Take of Iodide of cadmium, Take of Bromide of cadmium, Or, Take of Alcohol, (absolute,) Take of Iodide of cadmium, Take of Bromide of ammonium,

100 parts. 10 parts 5 parts

100 parts. 6 parts 6 parts 2 parts

100 parts. 10 parts 5 parts

Dissolve the salts in each case in the given quantity of alcohol, shaking the mixture frequently, and preserve it in well-closed bottles and in a dark place. Collodion for photographic purposes is prepared from a mixture of plain collodion, and one of the bromo-iodizers above given, in the proportion of ten parts of the former to one of the latter. The mixture requires to be placed aside for a day or two, before it arrives at its maximum sensitiveness. Many operators prepare their collodion directly with the requisite quantity of iodizing and bromo-iodizing materials, of which the following selection contains some of the best formula. Formula of Lieut.- Colonel Stuart Wortley. Ether, Alcohol, .802, Iodide of lithium, Bromide of lithium, 1 ounce. 2 ounce. 15 grains. 6 grains.

The pyroxyline is first steeped in the bromo-iodized alcohol, and the ether then added. These proportions produce a very fluid collodion, which is quite an advantage in coating large plates, where a very even film is required. It is said to be well adapted for instantaneous

pictures. The sensitizing bath, which is used with this collodion, will be found amongst the list of silver baths given hereafter. Ommeganck's Formulas for Portraits and Landscapes. For Portraits of short exposure. Ether Alcohol Iodide of ammonium Iodide of cadmium Bromide of cadmium pyroxylin 667 parts. 333 parts 6 parts 6 parts 3 parts 12 parts

This collodion is sure to be thick enough; if too thick, however, it can be rendered more fluid by the addition of an appropriate quantity either of ether or absolute alcohol. If more than one tenth of the original volume be added, it will be necessary to mix with this the corresponding quantity of the bromo-iodizers. For Landscapes, Views, and Direct Transparent Positives. Ether Alcohol Iodide of zinc Iodide of cadmium Bromide of cadmium Pyroxyline 667 parts. 333 parts 6 parts 6 parts 3 parts 12 parts

In this, as also in the preceding formula, weigh out the salts first; put them into a bottle of the proper capacity; add the alcohol, and dissolve them by frequent shaking; next add the ether and mix; finally introduce the pyroxyline in small flocks at a time, and shake until the cotton is dissolved. After the solution is effected the collodion is put aside in a cool, dark chamber, and allowed to settle for a couple of weeks. The first collodion will keep for a long time; the latter is less stable, but more sensitive to certain colors of foliage. Formulas of Disdri. N0. 1.---COLLODION FOR WINTER. First Formula.

Alcohol--spec. grav. .813 Ether, spec. grav. 720 Pyroxyline Iodide of ammonium Iodide of cadmium Bromide of ammonium Bromide of cadmium Iodine

4000 grains. 6000 grains 110 grains 60 grains 40 grains 6 grains 4 grains 5 grains

Second Formula. Alcohol--spec. grav. .813 Ether, spec. grav. 720 Pyroxyline Iodide of ammonium Iodide of potassium Bromide of ammonium Bromide of potassium Iodine 4000 grains. 6000 grains 110 grains 50 grains 50 grains 10 grains 10 grains 5 grains

The iodide and bromide of potassium are dissolved in the smallest quantity of water. A quarter of the prescribed quantity of alcohol is poured into a clean bottle; the pyroxyline is then introduced, and the mixture is well shaken. After this operation the ether is added. The salts of iodine and bromine are next weighed and dissolved in the remaining quantity of alcohol, and then mixed with the solution containing the cotton. The collodion is put aside for a day or two, and then either decanted or filtered. COLLODION FOR SPRING. Alcohol, (as before,) Ether,. (as before,) Pyroxyline Iodide of ammonium 5000 parts. 5000 parts 100 parts 50 parts

Iodide of cadmium Bromide of ammonium Bromide of cadmium Iodine

50 parts 10 parts 10 parts 5 parts

Second Formula. Alcohol and ether, of each Pyroxyline Iodine of ammonium and of potassium of each, Bromide of ammonium, and bromide of potassium of each, Iodine COLLODION FOR SUMMER. Alcohol, (as before,) Ether, (as before,) Pyroxyline Iodide of ammonium Iodide of cadmium Bromide of ammonium Bromide of cadmium Iodine 4000 grains. 6000 grains 80 grains 50 grains 30 grains 5 grains 2 grains 2 grains 5000 grains. 100 grains 50 grains 5 grains 5 grains

For copying engravings, etc., all that is required is a very simply iodized collodion, without any bromide. Formula for Copying Collodion. Alcohol, (absolute,) Ether, .720 Iodide of cadmium 5000 grains. 5000 grains 100 grains

Pyroxyline from Iodine

75 to 100 grains 2 grains

The collodion film, whether iodized or bromo-iodized, is rendered sensitive by immersion in a bath of nitrate of silver, which will be described in the following pages. (Owing to the instability of collodion when once iodized, it has been proposed to invert the operations, and to mix with the collodion an equivalent quantity of the nitrate of silver, instead of the iodizers or bromo-iodizers, and then to sensitize the film in a bath as follows: Distilled water Alcohol Iodide of ammonium Iodide of cadmium Iodide of zinc Bromide of zinc 100 parts. 25 parts 2 parts 4 parts 2 parts 2 parts

As soon as withdrawn from this bath, the collodion plate is washed in distilled water, and either used immediately by immersing it in a weak solution of nitrate of silver, or put away to dry. This process is due to Ch. D'Orma, and remains to be tried.) Whatever may be the difference of the composition of the collodion, arising from the variety of formulas that existfor there is scarcely a single operator that does not boast of his own formula-each collodionized plate, when the film has sufficiently dried, is submitted to the chemical influence of a solution of nitrate of silver, in order to obtain by double decomposition in and on the film an iodide, or a bromo-iodide of silver, which is sensitive to the actinic influence of light. If the film contained a pure iodide, or a pure bromo-iodide of silver, without the presence of a nitrate, the results would not be satisfactory. The nitrates, or nitrogenized organic substances seem to be essential as accessories in the photographic operation of producing collodion positives and negatives. The most important salt in photographic chemistry is nitrate of silver; it is the salt from which most of the other silver salts are obtained, and is besides a very costly article, and deserves therefore to be treated with all due respect. Hence the following chapter is devoted to its service chiefly.