MEW OLEAGINOUS COMPOUND. S43 



80 as from their superior acid property totally to destroy 

 that attraction which the alcohol exerts for the camphor; 

 and thus, by altering the properties of the alcohol, destroy 

 the effect of combination. 



The readiness with which the oleaginous substance may be 

 formed when benzoic acid is used may probably depend on 

 the three following causes. 1st, That the benzoic acid na- 

 turally possesses a strong attraction to combine with cam- 

 phor. 2ndly, That its attraction for alcohol is greater than 

 that of any other acid. * And 3dly, Through the medium of 

 the alcohol, it is brought into actual combination with the 

 camphor, so as to produce the oleaginous compound, or 

 benzoate of camphor and alcohol. From these three causes Theory of th© 

 I shall offer the following theory of its formation. As water ^om ^*5^df ^*" 

 is the principal agent in the production of this compound, 

 it becomes necessary to consider its specific action in pro- 

 ducing it ; and first to consider its power as a solvent.— 

 It must be well known, that water can only dissolve about 

 ^\j part of benzoic acid ; and from some recent experiments, 

 which I have lately made on the solubility of camphor in 

 distilled water, I find, that only a grain of this substance is 

 soluble in two ounces, or 1624 troy grains; from which I 

 infer its very slight power as a solvent for either of these 

 bodies. It becomes, therefore, extremely probable, that 

 the water exerts almost the whole of its affinity to enter into 

 chemical combination with the alcohol, which we know 

 from dilution would render it less capable of holding these 

 bodies in solution. Thus it is reasonable to expect, that a 

 quantity of benzoic acid and camphor will be separated 

 from the alcohol, in proportion to the quantity of water 

 added ; is it not, therefore, probable, that they, (as I have 

 before remarked) at the instant of their separation, pre- 

 serve their attractive quantities of alcohol, through the 

 medium of which they are enabled to unite ; and thus fiuallj 

 effect the .production of the oleaginous compound ? 



I cannot, however, conclude this communication with- 

 out entreating my reader to excuse the unfinished manner in 

 which I have oflered these few experimental facts and obser- 

 Tations, from believing the relation of them may probably 

 be the. means of exciting some gentleman to examine the 



6 subject 



