Pcckbain.] 4fi0 [September IS. 



The other samples furnished similar results. A portion of 

 the first sample added to a portion of chemically pure Urea, 

 gave the estimated quantity of nitrogen within a few thousandths 

 of one per cent. A sample of Mecca Oil furnished me by Dr. 

 J. S. Newbury, yielded .230 per cent., and another from the 

 Cumberland Well, W. Va., furnished me by Prof. E. B. An- 

 drews, yielded .054 per cent. The California Oils had been kept 

 during- the year in partially filled tin oil cans, closed with a 

 cork. The loss of nitrogen was not accompanied by a corres- 

 ponding increase in density, but the color had changed from 

 dark brown to black. These results proved the change to be 

 only in very small part due, to the breaking up of nitrogenous 

 compounds. 



I then determined to study the action of powerful oxidizing 

 agents upon the two varieties of oil. For this purpose I first 

 attempted to generate ozone by phosphorous, but found it very 

 difficult to manage. I then had recourse to the action of con- 

 centrated sulphuric acid upon dry per-manganate of potash, as 

 a source of ozone. With these reagents I was entirely success- 

 ful. The first per-manganate that I used, contained a portion 

 of nndecomposed chlorate, and consequently gave oft' chlorine 

 as well as ozone. Twenty-five grams each of the California and 

 Pennsylvania Oils were subjected to the action of the mixed 

 gases under identical conditions. The gases passed through 

 the California Oils in small bubbles, each bubble being covered 

 with a film of oil, Avhich rising and adhering to each other filled 

 the vessel, until a sudden collapse made room for more. With 

 the Pennsylvania Oil the bubbles rose to the surface and burst. 

 The quantity of both oils diminished in weight as the action was 

 prolonged from two to fifteen days, but not in proportion to the 

 length of time, as the amount of gases generated were greater 

 for the time during the shorter than the longer pei'iod. No 

 change whatever was perceptible in the Pennsylvania Oil ex- 

 cepting an increase in specific gravity. It remained perfectly 

 fluid, retaining its color and partial transparency, and no sedi- 

 ment was deposited from it. With the California Oils on the 

 contrary the action of the gases was extremely energetic. As 

 the first portions passed through the oil and collapsed, minute 

 particles of solid bitumen were left as the residuum of each 

 bu])ble. As the action was prolonged the specific gravity of the 



