44 ' Analysis of Acortis, fJuLY, 



ment, which, after standing twelve hours, was separated by 



E curing off the supernatant Hquid ; and after being dried five 

 ours at about 100 , weighed 71 grs. It was digested in dilute 

 nitric acid, and was dissolved in two days; from this it was pre- 

 cipitated by alcohol. 



(B.) The 63 grains of dry matter were macerated in cold 

 water two days, and the water (C) being poured off, was dried, 

 and alcohol of commerce added to it, but no part was dissolved, 

 although the colour of it became deeper, and it obtained a more 

 friable and harsh texture. The alcohol being poured olf, nitric 

 acid was added, and a partial solution took place ; for at the end 

 of twenty-six days, I found one-third of it dissolved. The solu- 

 tion was decanted off, and evaporated to dryness ; the residue 

 was very soluble in water, and of a wax-yellow. With this solu- 

 tion, muriate of lime gave no precipitate ; muriate of tin, nitrate 

 of silver, acetate of lead, gave each a copious white precipitate. 



(C.) This water did not seem to have taken up any part of 

 the 63 grs. 



(D.) The water that passed through the hair sieve was evapo- 

 rated to two ounces, and gluten coagulated in flakes, which, 

 separated by the filter and dried, weighed 25 grs. Isinglass 

 then precipitated about 10 grs. of tannin, the remaining part 

 was owing to an accident unexamined. 



The composition, therefore, appears to be, 



Grains. 



Starch 71 



Insoluble matter 63 



Gluten 25 



Tannin '. 10 



Extract, &c. and loss 181 



350 



Exper. 2. Analysis of the Ashes of Burnt Acorns, — The shells, 

 or external coats (not the cups, or calyces), were taken off. 



Grains. 



The shelled acorns weighed 1500 



The shells, or coats 360 



Total 1860 



(A. 1.) The shelled acorns were placed in a brown earthen- 

 ware cup, uncovered at the top, and continued at a red heat for 

 five hours, until burnt to ashes, which weighed, while hot, 20 grs. 

 Upon these ashes, three ounces of water were poured, and after 

 sometime filtered, the insoluble matter on the filter (A. 2.) being 

 dried, weighed five grains. The solution (A. 1.) turned turmeric 

 paper brown. 



