52 PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY. 



the oxides of magnesium, calcium, iron, and aluminum. It consisted 

 chiefly of the oxides of calcium and magnesium, doubtless derived 

 from the dolomitic reservoir. 



A quantity of brine was collected for examination at Petrolia from 

 a well recently drilled. Analysis showed that it contained calcic sul- 

 phate, and calcic, magnesic, and sodic chlorides, in the following pro- 

 portions in 1,000 parts : — 



NaCl 10.71 



MgClg 2.90 



CaCla 1-20 



CaSO, 3.20 



Iron and alumina traces. 



18.00 



The specific gravity of this brine at 20° was 1.0165. 



The composition of this brine is quite different from that given in 

 the early history of this oil territory by Dr. T. Sterry Hunt. We 

 made no examination for potassic chloride. 1,000 parts of the brine 

 gave in Hunt's analysis : — 



NaCl 4.800 



KCl 0.792 



CaCl2 12.420 



MgClg 3.650 



21.662 



It is practically impossible, at least in glass, to distil the Canadian 

 oil on a small scale unless it is free from water, and the water can be 

 removed only by long standing with large quantities of calcic chloride. 



After the first distillation there is less difficulty in removing water 

 except in the least volatile distillates. The necessity of vacuum dis- 

 tillation to avoid decomposition was even more evident in Canadian 

 than in Ohio oil. In quantities of 12 litres each, 64.5 kilos were 

 distilled in a porcelain still under a tension of 50 millimeters, and 

 the following quantities of the distillates were collected at different 

 temperatures : — 



