S4Q ^^yf OLEASINOtfS COMPOUND. 



tcr, a small quantity of benzoic acid was separated. Thi# 

 seemed a second confirmation, that camphor did not enter 

 into their composition. From this examination, however, 

 I think it is extremely probable; especially since we find 

 , . the larger crystals are formed in the upper stratum, that 



camphor does enter into their composition ; but that their 

 increased magnitude is owing to the reciprocal union of th© 

 alcohol and water in combination with the benzoic acid. 



From the two above-mentioned experiments we learn, 

 that water is only essential to the production of the com- 

 pound, inasmuch as it combines in definite ratios with the 

 alcohol, and therefore acts as a condensing agent, whereby 

 the particles of the acid and camphor are brought nearer 

 together : while they in their nascent state (if I may be al- 

 lowed the expression,) preserve their attractive quantities 

 of alcohol, by which they are enabled, from their natural 

 - aflinities, to enter into absolute union, and thus effect thd 

 formation of the oleaginous compound ; or what may b» 

 more properly denominated a benzoate of camphor and 

 alcohol. 



It must be sufficiently obvious, from what has been above 

 etated, that alcohol acts a very material part in the pro- 

 duction of this compound ; I therefore was induced to try, 

 from their analogous power as solvents for these bodies, the 

 effects of the sulphuric and nitric ethers. 

 JTrp, S.— .Sul- Exper. 3. — Twenty grains of benzoic acid, and the same 

 employed in- quantity of camphor, were dissolved in half an ounce of 

 •lead of alcohol, sulphuric ether. To this solution the same proportion of 

 distilled water was added, which produced at first a gene- 

 ral turbidness; but the aether, from its not possessing much 

 affinity for water, together with its superior levity, soon 

 separated, and occupied the upper stratum, which on agi- 

 tation had an oleaginous appearance. The result of this 

 combination, however, seems nothing more than a separa- 

 tion of the ether by the mechanical admixture of water; the 

 oleaginous appearance produced on agitation being caused 

 by the mutual and equal repulsion of their particles, which 

 thus gives the spherical appearance to the compound. The 

 density of this compound may be increased by augmenting 

 th« proportions of benzoic acid and camphor. Its princi- 

 pal 



