TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 35 
Causeway, the lias slate of Portrush, and the trachyte of Auvergne have also been 
obtained. : 
This experiment is liable to the ambiguity that nickel and cobalt, in a state of very 
fine subdivision, also precipitate copper, and would also be extracted from a powder 
containing them by passing a magnet through it. The extreme improbability of 
either of these metals being present is such, that the author considers it scarcely to 
weaken the conclusions at which he has arrived. 


On the Results of Analysis of a Substance resembling the Pigolite of Professor 
Johnston. By Professor James Apsoun, M.D., M.R.LA. 


Is the Mechanical Power capable of being obtained by a given Amount of 
Valorie employed in the production of Vapour independent of the Nature of 
the Liquids? By Professor James Arsoun, M.D. MRA. 


On Glynn and Appel’s Patent Paper for the prevention of Piracy and 
Forgery by the Anastutie Process. By SAMUEL BATESON. 

On Irish-bog Butter. By James S. Brazier, F.CS. 
‘The substance bearing this name is found accidentally in the various boggy districts 
of Ireland, sometimes also in Scotland, and is usually preserved in small kegs, in 
which the matter had most probably been originally deposited. Nothing appears to 
be known as to what this substance formerly was, or the time of its deposit. The 
specimen supplying the materials for Mr. Brazier’s experiments was found in the 
neighbourhood of Belfast. In Berzelius’ R&gport for 1847, is found an examination 
of another specimen of this substance by M. Luck, under the name of “ Bogie Acid,” 
who describes it as whitish, of low specific gravity, and of a peculiar odour. He fixes 
the fusing-point of the purified body at 51° Cent. (124° F'ahr.). He mentions also that 
its reaction to litmus paper is acid, and gives for the formula of the acid C,, H33 Oy. 
The specimen examined by Mr. Brazier was of a yellowish-white colour, the slight 
tinge of yellow being due to the presence of a very small quantity of a yellow oil 
pervading the whole mass: its external surface was somewhat friable, but portions 
from the interior of the specimen might have been selected having an unctuous feel, 
and possessing a most peculiar urinous odour. It is nearly insoluble in cold water, 
somewhat soluble in hot, but very soluble in alcohol and ether, especially on boiling, 
from either of which fluids it is deposited in white granular crystals. ‘The alcohol or 
zether separated from the crystalline deposit, which was usually done by expression, 
was of a deep yellow colour, and containing apparently a small quantity of the yellow 
oleaginous matter above mentioned in solution, and imbibing more powerfully the 
urinous odour of the interior of the mass. 
A clear portion of the substance taken directly from the keg gave a fusing-point of 
45° Cent. (113° Fahr.), but after repeated purification and crystallization, by means of 
alcohol and zther, to free it from all oleaginous matter, the fusing-point was raised to 
53° (127°-5 Fahr.). This means of purification was repeated several times, the fusing- 
point of the body remaining constantly the same, the substance itself resembling after 
fusion ordinary stearic acid. Before subjecting the substance to analysis, I thought 
it more advantageous to submit the body to a more rigorous method of purification, 
and adopted that of sapcnification. With potassa this body forms a beautifully clear 
transparent soap, and with the exception of the small portion of yellow oil mixed with 
" it, is readily soluble in water; by means of solution therefore the oil and other acci- 
dental impurities may easily be separated. By the addition of hydrochloric acid to 
the aqueous solution of the soap, the fatty acid is set free; this has to be well washed 
with large quantities of water and subjected several times to a considerable pressure. In 
this state the fusing-point was found to be 1279-5 Fahr., and the same portion of acid 
having undergone the same routine of purification a second time, the fusing-point re- 
mained constant. An analysis of the body thus. purified furnished numbers correspond- 
ing to the formula C,, H,, O,4, and for which the name of Butyro-limnodie Acid is pro- 
posed. The acid was subsequently recrystallized from alcohol and zther, when it was 
obtained in crystals of a beautifully white-satiny appearance, resembling benzoic acid. 
3% 
