BV R. GREIG SMITH. 119 



been treated with an excess of dilute sulphuric acid. After 

 standing over-night the supernatant liquid was filtered and the 

 residue washed with small quantities of water. Finally the 

 residue was dried in the air and reserved for ether diffusion. 



The filtrate, which had the odour of vinegar, was distilled 

 in a current of steam, but as hydrochloric acid was found in 

 the distillate the latter was i-eturned to the original liquid and 

 the whole was extracted by percolation with ether for twelve 

 hours. Since hydrochloric acid had been found in the steam 

 distillate of Bact. acacice, the distillation was not attempted 

 with Bact. metarabinum. The ether was distilled off and the 

 residual fluid reserved. 



The barium-calcium sulphate residue, after drying in the air, 

 was powdered and put into a filter paper cartridge and ex- 

 tracted by diffusion with ether. . The ether was distilled off' and 

 water added to the residual fluid when an oil separated out. This 

 was removed, dried, and the melting-point determined by the 

 capillary tube method. In the tube the solidified fatty acid, 

 which appeared microscopically as tufts of silky needles, rose at 

 43° and became clear at 45°. As the rising in the capillary tube 

 is taken as the melting point of fats, the identity of this acid 

 with lauric acid (m.p. 43-6°) may be assumed. The quantity was 

 too small to warrant testing it by other means. 



The mother liquor from the lauric acid was added to the solu- 

 tion of the acids obtained by the ethereal percolation of the acid 

 solution, and the whole was distilled in a current of steam mitil 

 a faintly acid distillate was obtained. Half of the distillate was 

 neutrahsed with sodium hydrate, evaporated down to small bulk, 

 and treated with silver nitrate. The white precipitate was 

 quickly filtered and washed, then dried, first on porcelain, and 

 finally over sulphuric acid iw vacuo. When the salt ceased to 

 lose weight an estimation of the silver was made. 



0-2044 grm. gave 0-1354 grm. Ag = 66-25 % Ag. 

 Silver acetate contains ... ... 67-08 % Ag. 



The chief volatile acid was therefore acetic. The filtrate from 

 the silver acetate rapidly darkened, showing the presence of formic 



