Mr. B. C. Brodie on Myricine, 253 



which correspond in 100 parts to — 



100-00 



These numbers prove the identity of the acid from the di- 

 stillation of myricine with that obtained from the saponification 

 of that substance (p. 251). 



There are great dilficulties in the way of obtaining even a 

 sufficient quantity of this acid for the determination of its for- 

 mula. To obtain even a very small portion of it of which the 

 purity may be relied on, it is necessary to operate on a large 

 quantity of the impure acid : for the preparation of this pure 

 myricine is required, free from cerotic acid, which it is not 

 easy to get in any quantity. 



These difficulties have prevented me making any further 

 experiments with this acid, theidentity of which however with 

 palmitic acid, as obtained by Fremy and Stenhouse from palm 

 oil, and by Sthamer from Japan wax, is made out. I subjoin, 

 for the sake of comparison, the silver determination of the 

 silver salt of the palmitic acid as obtained by these chemists. 



Fremy*. Stenhousef. Sthamer {. 



Silver, per cent. 29*00 29-23 29-42 29*28 29*51 



This acid appears also to be the same as the acid obtained 

 by Varrentrapp§ from the oxidation of oleic acid by means of 

 lime and potash, which also had the melting-point of 62° C. 

 The silver determinations of this acid gave as the per-centage 

 of silver, 



29-27 29-45 29-13, 



numbers identical with my own. 



Melene. 



It is well known that one of the principal products of the 

 dry distillation of wax is a solid hydrocarbon. Ettling, who 



* Liebig's Annalen, vol. xxxvi. p. 45. Silver determinations, V. VI. VII. 

 t Ibid. p. 52. The mean of five determinations closely agreeing. This 

 acid melted at 60° C. 



X Ibid. vol. xliii. p. 342. The mean of three determinations. 

 § Ibid. vol. XXXV. p. 209. 



