Milk of the Cow- Tree. 24 1 



of examination. The nitric acid solution, so far as could be 

 judged from the action of re-agents, consisted of a mixture of 

 magnesia and phosphate of lime. 



Gallactin, at the temperature of 60, has a specific gravity of 



0.969. 



It dissolves in considerable quantity in alcohol and sulphuric 

 ether, when assisted by heat. But it is again deposited in fine 

 white flocks, when the solutions are allowed to cool. 



Oil of turpentine dissolves it with facility ; and when the oil 

 is cautiously driven off, a yellow transparent varnish remains. 



Olive oil dissolves it likewise with facility, and in consider- 

 able quantity before its consistency is sensibly altered. 



In the properties hitherto enumerated, gallactin agrees with 

 wax, excepting that it is more soluble both in alcohol and ether. 

 But in the following properties, there is a marked difference be- 

 tween these two bodies. 



1. Gallactin does not combine with the fixed alkalies, and 

 does not seem capable of forming soap ; whereas wax, as is well 

 known, combines with facility with the alkalies, and readily forms 

 with them a soap. It is true that MM. BOUSSINGAULT and 

 MARIANO DE RIVEIIO say expressly that the wax of the cow-tree 

 combines with the alkalies, and forms soap. But I digested gal- 

 lactin in caustic potash ley for three days, and kept the mixture 

 boiling for several hours, without any appearance of combination. 

 When the ley was allowed to cool, the gallactin was found float- 

 ing on its surface in the state of a solid cake, not sensibly altered 

 in its properties. When wax is subjected to the same treatment, 

 it forms a milky liquid with the ley in the course of a few mi- 

 nutes, and this liquid may be employed as a detergent, and of 

 course possesses the properties of soap. 



2. Cold nitric acid does not act sensibly on gallactin ; but 

 when heat is applied, an effervescence takes place, the gallactin 

 assumes an orange colour, and gradually dissolves. If we pour 



