Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences - Yearbook (Boston, MA)

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TA-.tt fb of ii Q E if T in . .. fi. 2 vi xi X 1 5.1 .L . ' , , . firlllllllil f. W CD C'B 'E......-. i Cotton 1 HE Cotton plant belongs to the family of Malvacem, and grows in tropical and sub-tropical regions, flourishing up to latitude 370. It is, however, cultivated in a few countries farther north, as in Russian Central Asia, where it is grown in Khiva up to 430. The cotton plant demands a mean tem- perature of from 660 to 770. Very high temperatures and frosts are alike injurious to it. It also requires a fair amount of moisture, both in the atmosphere and in the soil, but not an excess. Sandy soils allow the rain to soak through them too quickly, and clayey soils are too impervious. The best kind is deep loam. Sometimes the cotton plant attains to the dimensions of a tree, especially Gossypium arboreum, which reaches a height of twenty feet and lives for forty years, it is, however, almost always cultivated as an annual or biennial, and therefore takes the form of a bush. There are many varieties, some of which are probably not distinct species. To Gossypium Barbadense belongs the Sea Island cotton of the United States Cwhich is cultivated on the islands and low coast of South Carolina, Georgia and Floridaj and also the cotton of Egypt. The Upland cottons of the United States have originated from Gossypium Herbaceum and Gossypium Hirsutum. In South America is found the Gossypium Peruvianum of Peru and Brazil, perhaps only a variety of Gossypium Barbadense. The short stapled cottons of India are derived chiefiy from Gossypium Neglectum, Gossypium Nerbacium and Gossypium VVrightianum. Gther species of varieties are indigenous in Central Asia, Africa, etc., but in general they yield an inferior fiber. Slight differences of soil and climate produce variations in the character of the cotton, so that no fewer than one hundred and thirty kinds are counted in the United States alone. The Howers vary in color according to the species, being yellow, pink, brownish red or purple. The pod has five cells in which are seeds covered with hbers. These act the part of thistle down in carrying the seeds to a distance, and are the cotton of commerce. They are composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, and are almost pure cellulose. They differ in length and diameter, those of the sea island variety being longest and finest. The fibers of this cotton vary in length from 1.9 inches to 2.2 inches, and have an average diameter of 1.1262 inches. Indian cotton is short and brittle, the best Bengal cotton having a staple not exceeding 1.3 inches and a diameter of 1.1369 inches, while Madras cotton 114

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A Iilllllll' Q cn fc I B L E i LF E1 v Ic-:Jail ., Az., GEORGE A. CARTER, '23 LEON S. CHISHOLM, '24 JOSEPH CIANCIARULO, '23 EDNVARD F. CROXVLEY, '23 CARSON M. DELON, '22 JOHN DONOIAN, '24 ALBERT H. FUBLER, '22 DANIEL GOLD, '23 FRED C. HAILER, '22 J. BURKS HARLEY, '23 HOMER M. HUGGAN, '24 H. LESLIE HUTCHINS, '24 RAY S. KELLEY, '21 Service Men ARMEN T. KRASI-IARIAN, '25 JOHN G. LEXYIS, '21 JOHN L. MAHAN, '24 HERMAN L. MARTIN, '24 RALPH M. NIERROXY, '24 WILLIAM N. MURPHY, '24 XNILBUR N. 0,BRIEX, '24 LESLIE M. GHIIART, '23 ANSELMO QRTIZ-LEON, '23 LBERT H PARADIS, '23 4 -.A- ' ALBERT E. RICHARDSON, JR., SAMUEL ROSENTHAL, '25 ARTHUR J. TRINQUE, '24 '2

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shui Fd 7 iiifffi L r ' . v fxfw -i . . I -' -I ii, ' 1 , ' A v - I. X Ax sg w li V , lx ' - , 7 1 ' l 1 L ' .l Ill 1 cn CIBLE mm has very short straight fibers. Next to Sea Island, the ligyptian 111111111 is 1l1e best, While Orleans cotton is Very regular i11 staple. Though sea lSlll.llil 111111111 commands the highest price, stronger fiber of medium staple is mos1 i11 ClClll2lllll. Vtlhen the seeds and fibers have been removed from the pods, the fiber is stripped from the seeds by machines called gins-the roller gin, 0ll'ci2lI'llly'iS gin, the saw gin of Eli VVhitney, and others. Some short fibers still cling to 1l1e seeds and are made into Wadding. The cotton is compressed l1y Slttlllll pressers into bales of various weight, the American l1ale of Upland 11111111111 Xllflglllllg 1111 an average of 515 pounds, the Egyptian bale, 700 poundsg 1l1e llltllllll Zllltblll 400 pounds, and the Brazilian 175 to 220 pou11ds. Tl1e :Xmeriean t'yllllCll'lt'2ll bale, recently introduced, contains 420 to 430 pounds. Of late years, 1l1e 1-1111- sumption of the cotton by the factories has l1een very great a11d 1l1e supply has not tended to increase in as great ratio as the consumption. ' Purified cotton, or absorbent cotton, as it is COIHIl10lllY called, is eo11on freed from adhering impurities and linters, and deprived of fatty mat1er. l'urilied cotton Wool is cellulose in one of its purest forms. First the cotton is boiled in a Weak alkaline solution, then rinsed with a weak solution of chlorinated lime to whiten it, next it is dippec- into a very dilute solution of hydrocl1loric acid a11d thoroughly rinsed with pure Water. This frees it from any trace of fatfy matter. After cotton is thoroughly dried, it is finally carded. It loses about 10 per cent of its weight in this process. This purified cotton is employed in pharmacy a11d illl medicine i11 tl1e forn1s of filter paper, in muslin strainers, for surgical bandages and dressings, for paper, lint, etc. It is also used in funnels for straining, and in percolators for control- ling the How of the percolate. Cotton is used to a large degree in the manufacture of explosives, artificial ivory and many other important articles of present-day use. Besides the fiber, the seeds are a valuable product of the cotto11 plant. The m is used for making salad oils, butter, lard, soap and oil expressed from the Q I S tl rn Euiobe it is largely used instead ol olive phonograph cylinders. n ou 16 '1 , 1 s oil, or as an adulterant to the latter. Q g ' The meal from the seeds and the hulls makes excellent food lor cattle. The hulls also furnish material for an excellent grade of paper. The hber ot 1l1e stalks has been made into sacking for cotton bales and is also being used lll the carpet industry. 115