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solubility of the pigmentary color with water； such as
the aniline inks which are given more body than
those for ordinary purposesand the logwoods in
which the pigment is developed and given copying
qualities by chemicals； and hence becomes responsive
to the application of a sheet of paper dampened with
water。 Copying ink should never be used for
〃record〃 purposes as it is affected by changes of the
temperature。
India ink； sometimes called China ink； or as formerly
known by the ancients and in classical and later times
〃Indian ink；〃 is now used more for drawing and engrossing
than it is for commercial purposes。 It belongs
to the 〃carbon〃 class and in some form was
the first one used in the very earliest times。 In
China it is applied with a brush or pith of some reed
to the 〃rice〃 paper also there manufactured。 It is
easily washed away unless bichromate of ammonium
or potassium in minute quantities be added to it； and
then if the paper on which it appears be exposed for a
short time to the action of the actinic rays of sunlight；
this gummy compound will be rendered insoluble and
cannot be removed with any fluid； chemical or otherwise。
It possesses also great advantages in drawing；
since it acts as a paint； and will give any degree of
blackness according to the quantity of water mixed with it。
Secret or sympathetic inks are invisible until the
writing is subjected to a subsequent operation； such
as warming or exposing to sunlight。 To further aid
the object in view； the paper may be first steeped in
a liquid and the writing only made visible by using
another liquid which has some chemical affinity with
the previous one。 The number of this kind were but
few but have multiplied as chemistry progressed。
The ancients were acquainted with several modes。
Ovid indiscreetly advises the Roman wives and maidens
if they intend to make their correspondence unreadable
to the wrong persons to write with new milk；
which when dried may be rendered visible by rubbing
ashes upon it or a hot iron。 Pliny suggests milky
juices of certain plants of which there are a considerable
variety。
Indelible ink is not used for writing purposes on
paper； but is found best adapted for marking linen
and cancellation or endorsing purposes。 It is chiefly
composed of nitrate of silver preparations； to which
heat must be applied after it has been dried； or a
pigment is commingled with the same vehicles used
in making common printing ink and in its use treated as such。
Diamonds； gold； silver； platinum and a host of other
materials are manufactured into ink and are to be
placed under the head of miscellaneous inks。 They
are in great number and of no interest in respect to
ink writing except for engrossing or illuminating。
Still another ink once held in much esteem and now
almost obsolete is the so…called 〃safety〃 ink。
Manufacturers； chemists and laymen in great number
for many years wasted money； time and energy
in diligent worship at a secret shrine which could not
give the information they sought。 A summary of the
meager and barren results they secured is of little
value and unimportant。 Hence； there is no REAL 〃safety〃 ink。
It is true that lampblack （carbon） as made into
ink； resists any chemical or chemicals； but simple
water applied on a soft sponge will soon remove such
ink marks。 The reason for this is obvious； the ink
does not penetrate the paper。
〃Safety〃 ink which will not respond to acids may
be affected by alkalis； or if resisting them separately；
will yield to them in combination。
CHAPTER XV。
OFFICIAL AND LEGAL INK。
FIRST COMPLETE OFFICIAL INVESTIGATION OF INK IN
THIS COUNTRYTHE HONOR DUE TO ROBERT T。 SWAN
OF BOSTONRESUME OF HIS REPORTS TO THE
LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTSTHE
SWAN LAW ADOPTED IN 1894 BY THE STATE OF
MASSACHUSETTSUNITED STATES TREASURY DEPARTMENT
ADOPTS AN OFFICIAL INK IN 1901UNSUCCESSFUL
ATTEMPT TO SECURE INK LEGISLATION IN THE STATE
OF NEW YORKCOMMENTS OF THE PUBLIC PRESS OF
THAT PERIODDIFFERENT WORKS WHICH MORE OR
LESS DWELL ON THE SUBJECT OF INK FROM 1890 TO
1900CITATIONS FROM ALLEN'S COMMERCIAL ORGANIC
ANALYSISREFERENCE TO PAPER ABOUT INK
READ BEFORE THE NEW YORK STATE BAR ASSOCIATION。
IT was not； however； until 1891 that the subject of
the constitution of an enduring record ink received
the consideration its importance deserved and in this
the youngest of countries。 To Robert T。 Swan of
Boston is all honor due for the very unique and
comprehensive methods adopted in his investigations。
Appointed 〃commissioner of public records〃 of the
state of Massachusetts； he has set an example which
may well be followed by other states； as has been
done in a lesser degree by Connecticut and ten years
later by the United States Treasury Department；
which in this respect is so ably represented in part
by Dr。 Charles A。 Crampton of Washington； D。 C。
Mr。 Swan in his reports to the legislature of his
state for the last twelve years； deals with the subject
of the constitution of 〃permanent inks〃 so thoroughly；
and with it affords information of so practical
and useful a character； that the fullest references to
them prove both instructive and interesting。 In his
report of 1891 he remarks：
〃Upon commencing an examination of the records
in various places； I was impressed with the
great importance of the use of inks which should
be permanent； and the necessity of an investigation
which might prevent the further use of inks that
for one reason or another were unfit for use upon
records。 I found that； as a rule； the inks upon
the most ancient records had preserved their color；
many undoubtedly being blacker than when used；
but that the later records lost the jet…black appearance
of the older。 This； it is true； is not wholly
due to the change of inks； for the use of quills；
the soft surface of the old paper； the absence of
blotting paper and the greater time spent in writing；
were all conducive to a heavier deposit of ink；
but evidence is ample that in comparatively recent
years inks of poor quality came in use。 Proof of
this is given by an examination of the records in
the state house。 Up to about 1850 it was the custom
in the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth
to use for engrossing the acts； inks made
of a powder which was mixed in the office； and
until that time the acts which are engrossed upon
parchment show； with but few exceptions； no signs
of fading。 From 1850 for several years the writing
in many cases is becoming indistinct； that upon an
act in 1851； and upon two in 1855； having nearly
disappeared。 Since 1860； acts showing different
intensity of color are found； but whether this is
their original color or not cannot be determined。
That the fading can be attributed to the parchment；
as some claim； is disproved by the fact that
of the signatures upon the same ac