The silver anodes show the condition of the fluid. If the solution is in good order they will have a clear, creamy appearance, but will tarnish or turn pink if there is not sufficient free cyanide in the solution. The proper strength of current is indicated by the appearance of the plated objects. A clear white surface shows that everything is all right, the solution in proper working order, and the proper current to do the work. Too much current will make the color of the kathodes yellow or gray, while too little current will act slowly and require a long time to deposit the silver. The adhesion of silver-plate is rendered more perfect by amalgamating the objects in a solution of nitrate of mercury, one ounce to one gallon of water. After the objects have been properly cleansed they are immersed in this solution for a minute, then placed in the silver-bath and connected with the negative-rod, so that the electro-depositing action begins at once. Gold-plating The gold-bath is made in the same manner as the silver one just described, with the exception that chloride of gold is used in place of the nitrate of silver in the first solution. This solution must be heated to 150° Fahrenheit when the process is going on; or a cold bath may be made of water, 5000 parts; potassium cyanide, one hundred parts; and pure gold, fifty parts. The gold must be dissolved in hydrochloric acid, and added to the water and potassium. Very pretty effects may be obtained in gold-plating by changing the tones from yellow to a greenish hue by the addition of a little cyanide of silver to the solution, or by the use of a silver anode. A reddish tinge may be had by adding a small portion of sulphate of copper to the solution, or hanging a small copper anode beside the gold one. In the hot gold-bath the articles should be kept in motion, or the solution stirred about them with a glass rod. When the solution is perfectly balanced and working right the anodes should be a clear dead yellow, and the articles in process of plating should be of the same hue. A gold-plating outfit is shown in Fig. 13, and consists of the tank and bath, a cell, and a resistance-coil (R), through which the strength of the current is regulated.