28 Mr. W. Kemp's Observations on the latest 



The fatty oil obtained in the Giessen laboratory from the 

 seeds of the maize, completely dissolved in an alkaline car- 

 bonate and formed a perfect soap ; it consisted of a fatty acid, 

 which probably is formed by the influence of the air on the fat 

 contained in the seed on its becoming rancid. 



According to the analysis of Dr. Fresenius, this oil consists 

 in 100 parts of — 



Carbon 79*68 



Hydrogen 11*53 



Oxygen 8*79 



and possesses, therefore, a composition similar to known fats. 



I consider it certain, that the fat which animals take in their 

 food contributes to increase the quantity of fat in their bodies. 

 We have of this certain and decided proof, in the patholo- 

 gical treatment of persons who daily take a considerable quan- 

 tity of cod-liver oil. 



I further consider it probable that oily fat may pass into 

 crystallized fatty acids ; and Wohler's observation, that fusel 

 oil from corn contains a considerable quantity of margaric 

 acid, finds a satisfactory solution by the experiments of M. 

 Mulder, which make the conversion of cenanthic acid into 

 margaric acid probable. 



In the Giessen laboratory the observation was made some 

 years ago, that the oleic acid, in the state in which it is ob- 

 tained from stearic acid manufactories, produces upon rapid 

 distillation more than the half of a fluid product which on 

 cooling becomes as hard as tallow, and upon expression pro- 

 duces 35 per cent, of margaric acid. 



These experiments, which are well worth a closer investi- 

 gation, render it not improbable that hard tallow might be 

 formed out of liquid crystallizable oil. 



Whether similar processes take place in animals, in relation 

 to the formation of many of their compounds, to those that 

 take place in plants, is hardly to be doubted. 



The observation by Wbhler of the giving out of oxygen 

 by the infusoria, which led him to put the question, whether 

 the nourishment of these creatures was not dependent upon 

 a similar decomposing process to that of plants, might by ac- 

 curate examination be soon brought to a decision. 



VIII. Observations on the latest Geological Changes in the 

 South of Scotland. By Mr. William Kemp *. 



INHERE is certainly no department in geological investiga- 

 - tion less understood, while at the same time there is none 

 that has been more frequently treated of, than the last bene- 

 * Communicated by the Author. 



