102 PETKOLEUM AND NATUKAL GAS. [Feb. 5, 



The distillate above referred to was then redistilled from a small 

 iron retort and two fractions collected, leaving a residue in the 

 retort which had the appearance and odor of a reduced petroleum 

 oil or residuum, such as is used in the. manufacture of vaseline and 

 similar products. 



The two fractions were found to resemble what are known as 

 paraffine oils in considerable degree, showing the characteristic 

 fluorescence of these. They were given a partial treatment with 

 sulphuric acid and the results are shown. From a portion of one of 

 these fractions, on chilling in a freezing mixture, scale paraffine was 

 also separated, of which a sample is shown. Of course the frac- 

 tions must be obtained on a sufficiently large scale to admit of 

 thorough purifying before the character of the hydrocarbons can be 

 studied. At present they contain impurities such as aldehyde-like 

 and possibly ketone products. They reduce ammoniacal silver solu- 

 tions and indicate thus the presence of these impurities. 



These results, which of course are only preliminary, are sufficient 

 to show that we have hydrocarbon oils analogous to the natural 

 petroleum or mineral oils formed when linseed oil is distilled under 

 pressure. It is difficult then to see how we can avoid widening 

 Engler's theory so as to include the vegetable seed oils as probable 

 additional sources of petroleum. Moreover, I see no reason, if 

 lard oil will yield the results which Engler has obtained, to doubt 

 that vegetable oleins like olive oil and its class may also be found 

 to be capable of the same changes. 



We are thus brought from an experimental point of view to come 

 to the acceptance of the theory of the joint animal and vegetable 

 origin of petroleum that the majority of geologists have settled 

 upon as according best with their study of its local occurrence. 



