It is believed that the production of white lead in Italy during the first ten years of this century was about 300 tons per annum. The total annual production at present is, in round numbers, about 3500 tons, of which 2800 are produced in the Ligurian manufactories, and about 300 in those of Naples. Milan also produces about 300 tons. The product finds a market almost exclusively in Italy. The annual amount exported is about 300 tons, and goes chiefly to Constantinople. Of the quantity of 2000 tons per annum produced at Cogoleto, about 300 tons is sold mixed with oil. No exact statistics are attainable as to the total amount of Italian white lead which is annually sold other than in the dry state, but it is believed to be little, if any, larger than 300 tons. When the price of white lead was high, sulphate of baryta was mixed with carbonate of lead to produce white lead of inferior quality, but in consequence of the present price of white lead the use of sulphate of baryta has almost entirely ceased. No other methods of adulteration are known to be in use. In Italy, white lead is universally known as “_biacca_” when it is sold in cakes. When sold in powder it is known as “_carbonato di piombo_” (carbonate of lead). The lead from which all the white lead made in Italy is manufactured comes from the lead mines of the island of Sardinia, with the exception of a very small quantity of argentiferous lead coming from Spain. The acetic acid used in the process of manufacture comes from France. The market price of white lead in Italy is now about 45 lire the quintal (equivalent to 18_s_. per cwt.). _Lewis’s Process._--Many attempts have been made to substitute for carbonate of lead--the ordinary poisonous white lead, that slowly but surely induces paralysis in those who come in contact with it for any considerable period--some less deleterious pigment. Zinc white has often been put forward as a substitute, and is indeed largely employed; but it is open to the objection of not possessing sufficient body or opacity. Sulphate of lead is not poisonous; but, when prepared in the ordinary way by precipitation, is of a crystalline nature, and, therefore, wanting in both these qualities. A sulphate of lead has, however, been produced by John T. Lewis, of Philadelphia, by sublimation, which, when treated by the Freeman process, is stated to possess a body and colour superior to the best white lead made by the ordinary process, with the additional merit of being cheaper, while it is also non-poisonous. In the smelting of lead ore into pig lead, 15 per cent. goes off in fumes, and 10 per cent. are all that it has hitherto been found possible to recover; by this process, however, the whole 15 per cent. are recovered. The sulphate may also be produced from a low quality of galena, or lead ore, which is not suited for smelting into metallic lead, and from the slag formed in the process of smelting.