20, 1 Cole: Identification of Ambergris 109 
ambergris was melted, it remained as a brownish black viscous 
mass on cooling. 
Attempts to crystallize the ambrein from alcohol were unsuc- 
cessful. No crystallizable product could be obtained upon acetyl- 
ization with acetic anhydride. 
The above data and especially the microscopical examination © 
proved that this substance was true ambereris. 
CONCLUSION 
A careful microscopical examination of substances suspected 
of being ambergris will often prove to be of greater value in the 
identification of such substances than the ordinary physical or 
chemical methods. 
