Opinions differ as to the effect of this acetate if allowed to remain in the product. White lead makers on the “stack” principle aver that it should and must be washed out, lest it should damage the qualities of the paint. This is questionable, and not one can produce practical evidence of its being the cause of any damage if still contained in white lead. Facts seem to deny its harmfulness in this respect, inasmuch as the best prepared samples, those washed and dried from the most careful makers, will be found upon analysis to contain more or less of acetate of lead. A large proportion of this salt in white lead may not be beneficial for many reasons, but a small percentage can do no harm; nay, for many purposes it may be good. There is no substance used for driers for white lead that is more esteemed than this acetate of lead, commonly known as “sugar of lead.” A small amount of this salt present in white lead would communicate drying properties, and this alone is what it could do. Granting that we can discover a method of producing white lead of amorphous character, of good density, free from all discoloration, free from all particles of metallic lead, and free from all but a small percentage of acetate of lead, then washing will not be needed. Stoving and drying become unnecessary. The work of women, their deadly occupation, so burdensome to the operatives and to all with whom they are concerned, is done away with. _Condy’s Process._--An improvement in the manufacture of white lead was patented by Condy, of Battersea, in 1881, which, though giving perfectly satisfactory results when carefully conducted, necessitated special precautions, and led to his substituting in practice the following additions and modifications, which are of great consequence in rendering the process more certain in the quality of its product, and more valuable as a commercial manufacture on the practical scale, by virtue of its offering greatly increased facility and economy in production.