WAX MYRTLE. 35. 
The bark and leaves of the Myrica cerifera 
contain gallic acid, tannin, resin, and a small 
quantity of mucilage, which are manifested by 
their usual tests. 
The wax of the Myrica is obtained for com- 
mon purposes by boiling. large quantities of the 
berries in kettles with water enongh to cover 
them to the depth of several inches. The ber- 
ries, which float at first, gradually subside to the’ 
bottom when the wax is melted off, which latter 
substance floats on the surface. When the 
boiling has been continued long enough to divest 
the berries of most of their wax, the liquid is 
suffered to cool, and the wax concretes on the top. 
Tt is purified by melting it — mooie is then cast 
into masses. eee 
In this state it is of a pesbuitit ae hanges 
with a consistence which is intermediate between 
that of bees wax and tallow, being brittle and not 
remarkable for adhesiveness or unctuosity. It 
burns with a white flame, which is less vivid than 
that of tallow or whale oil. ae 
_ The chemical properties of this wax have 
been examined by M. Cadet, in France, and Dr. 
Bostock, in England. From their experiments, 
we learn that water has no action on the Myrtle 
wax, either cold or at the boiling heat. Dr. 
