\ NEW VARIETY OF ASPHA1.I. 



355 



lion, and which is otherwise unknown. The sublimate from the melan-asphalt may have 

 some connexion with that of Mr. Mill, though its scarcity prevented further examination. 

 Portions of the sublimate and of the melted asphalt were given to the Commissioners at my 

 examination.* 



The behaviour of the melan-asphalt towards solvents, compared with that of Egyptian 

 asphalt and cannel coal, is shown by the following table. The object of these experiments 

 with menstrua, was not so much sola/ion, as comparison of solubility. The conditions were 

 therefore kept as much alike as possible. One thirty-second of an ounce of substance was 

 added to one fluid drachm of solvent. The mixtures stood from Saturday to Monday, and 

 were then boiled for about a minute and left to settle. 



\\ ben raised to the boiling points in coal-tar and coal-tar pitch, the melan-asphall was 

 softened that it might be moulded into anj shape, and when hard on cooling, its fracture 

 was the same as before the experiment. The Egyptian asphalt disappeared completely, 

 while the cannel coal was nol in the leasl affected. 



From the experiments made w ith a \ iew to the solubility of the asphalt in several men- 

 strua, I would infer that its solubility depend- much upon the fun tie.-- of the powder and 

 length of time of the action. A flask was half fill< d w ith oil of turpentine, and to ite neck 

 was adapted, by means of a cork, a bent tube, to which was melted one of larger dia- 

 meter in connexion with a Liebig's condenser, so that ihe whole Bystera made an obtuse 

 angle with the axis of the flask. Pieces of the asphalt of the Bizeofa hazelnut were 

 introduced into the widened tube, and the turpentine brought to the boiling point. The 

 turpentine vapours condensing upon the asphalt took it in solution pouring down again 



* I tux] by a sub- ; 



asphalt, lil 



■ .ill in a Ma-k ; bul the experimi 



