172 DAY — AX ASPHALT RESEMBLING GILSONITE. [May 20, 



and still more recently by Sadtler from linseed oil. In addition to 

 liquid distillates, paraffin has also been obtained by these investiga- 

 tors. No mention, however, of an analogous production of asphalts, 

 so far as I am aware, has ever been made. 



To test the correctness of the belief already expressed, I tried the 

 following experiments : 



Into a cylindrical iron retort were introduced a number of fresh 

 herring, a quantity of pine saw dust and a number of small 

 pieces of fat pine wood. The retort was connect'ed by plaster-of- 

 Paris joints with a short glass tube, and this with a gas pipe four 

 feet long, the latter being placed in an ordinary combustion furnace, 

 the other end of the pipe was connected with a Liebig's-cold-water 

 condenser.^ After charging and closing the retort, it was heated by 

 means of gas stoves, which together with the retort were surrounded 

 with loose bricks to prevent the loss of heat. The heating of the re- 

 tort was regulated by the rapidity with which vapors were evolved, 

 an increase of heat being necessary toward the end of the distillation. 

 The gas pipe was simultaneously heated to bright redness by the 

 combustion furnace. The pressure was that of the atmosphere. 

 During the progress of the distillation water and oil together with a 

 white smoke flowed from the condenser into the receiver. The oil 

 obtained was lighter than water, of bad odor and very dark red in 

 color. At the end of the gas pipe next to the retort carbon sepa- 

 rated, and on one occasion nearly choked the pipe. Only once 

 was an oil heavier than water obtained, and this was small in 

 amount. 



The condensed oil was separated from the water on which it 

 floated, and finally completely dried over chloride of calcium. 



It was then placed in a distilling bulb provided with thermometer 

 and distilled, using a straight glass tube as an air condenser. 



Boiling began at about loo Centigrade, but the mercury soon 

 rose to 1 20. The distillate between these limits consisted of a 

 lemon-yellow mobile oil together with a few drops of water. 



At 120 C. the receiver was changed, and another fraction darker 

 in color and less mobile was obtained while the mercury rose to 

 180. The third fraction was collected between the limits 180 and 

 245 ; the fourth between 245 and 315, this fraction showing a pro- 

 nounced greenish fluorescence, the color by transmitted light being 



1 See accompanying photograph. 



