BY R. GREIG SMITH. 115 



distilled to eliminate the ether and the residual Huids were 

 examined. 



The residue from the solution of the acid fluid was diluted 

 with water when there separated out a small quantity of fat. 

 This was not examined, partly on account of its small amount, 

 and partly because a former experience had shown that the 

 water insoluble fatty acids are found chiefly in the calcium 

 sulphate residue. The filtered solution was distilled with steam 

 until the distillate had but a faint acidity. The distillate, 

 which had a fruity odour, was boiled with an excess of barium 

 hydrate. What appeared to be common alcohol was detected 

 as it rose in the aerial condenser attached to the flask in 

 which the distillate was boiled. After boiling for two hours 

 the solution was cooled, a-cidified with sulphuric acid and dis- 

 tilled. The distillate, which gave a very faint precipitate with 

 mercuric chloride, was neutralised with baryta water and 

 evaporated to dryness. The analysis of the residue, dried at 

 140°, gave the following figures: — 



0-1444 grm. gave 0-1313 grm. BaSOj, = 53-48 %Ba. 



Barium acetate contains ... ... 53-73 % Ba. 



During the analysis, the odour of acetic acid was given off 

 upon the addition of the sulphuric acid to the barium salt. 



The non-volatile acids were evaporated nearly to dryness, 

 and allowed to crystallise overnight. Colourless prisms separ- 

 ated out. These could be sublimed and melted at 180°, thus 

 indicating succinic acid. 



After removing the crystals the mother liquor was diluted 

 and a portion treated with calcium acetate. No precipitate 

 formed at once, but on warming crystals slowly separated. 

 When examined microscopically, after twenty-four hours, the 

 crystals were seen to consist of tufts of needles with a few 

 octahedra and lens-shaped forms. Both from the macroscopic 

 and the microscopic observations the precipitate appeared to be 

 calcium citrate with a trace of calcium oxalate. A solution 

 of citric acid was treated with calcium acetate and used to 



