1835.] Improvements in Science. 209 



Oil of Wax. — Ettling has examined the oil of wax after 

 freeing it from paraffine and margaric acid. Red oil of wax 

 was distilled with four parts of water to one half. It was 

 then digested with potash, which removed a brown matter, 

 and afterwards distilled and rectified with muriate of lime. 

 It became pale-yellow ; sp. gr. 0*7502; boiling point 137° 

 (278° F.) It consists of 



Carbon . . . 85*535 

 Hydrogen . . 14*224 

 Oxygen . . . 0*241 



Annalen der Pharmacies 100*000 



Products of the decomposition of alcohol, by peroxide of 

 manganese and sulphuric acid. {Ann. de Pogg. xxviii. 508.) 

 C. G. Gmelin announced that when alcohol is distilled with 

 peroxide of manganese and sulphuric acid, formic acid was 

 formed, but Dbbereiner disputed the fact. M. L. Gmelin, 

 to settle the matter, distilled two parts of alcohol with 

 four of water, two of sulphuric acid, and two peroxide 

 of manganese. He obtained as the product, pure water, 

 and a substance possessing the smell of naphtha, containing 

 much formic acid, with a little acetic acid. When no 

 water is added to the alcohol a small quantity of formic 

 acid only is formed, and the residuum possessed the smell 

 of benzoine. He did not, however, detect the presence of 

 benzoic acid. 



Pyroxilic Spirit, by M. S. Leibig, {Journ. de Pharm. v. 32.) 

 In distilling wood vinegar, wood spirit is obtained, which 

 strongly resembles alcohol, but is very impure. To purify 

 it after rectification, it is saturated with chloride of lime, 

 which it dissolves, it is then allowed to settle. An empy- 

 reumatic oil which it contains, separates and swims on the 

 surface. It is distilled a third time, and in order to separate 

 the water it is rectified several times over chloride of cal- 

 cium. Pure wood spirit is a colourless fluid with the pene- 

 trating smell of ether, possessing the taste of pepper. It 

 boils at 140°. Its sp. gr. is 0*804 at 64J°. It burns with a 

 blue dim flame. It consists of 



Carbon . , . 0*5382 3 atoms. 



Hydrogen . . 0*1097 5 „ 



Oxygen . . . 0<3510 1 „ 



VOL. I. P 



