Professor Curistison on the Petrolewm of Rangoon. 119 
I am not aware that either this, or any of the European pe- 
troleums, has been subjected to careful analysis; and I should 
suppose no such analysis has been made, because no chemist, 
even with a careless examination, could have failed to observe 
that it contains a peculiar principle, the discovery of which would 
have given the analysis publicity. 
The petroleum of Rangoon, at ordinary temperatures in this 
country, is a soft solid, of the consistence of lard. Its specific 
gravity, at the temperature of 60° Fahr. is 880, water being 1000. 
At the temperature of 86°, it is of the consistence of thin paste, 
and at 90° it melts completely, and forms a sluggish liquid, which 
acquires more fluidity as the temperature rises. Hence in the 
East, during the hot season, when it is dug for, it must be in the 
fluid state, and consequently entitled to its vulgar name ground- 
oil. It has a powerful naphthous odour, different from that of 
most other petroleums. 
It is impossible to analyze this petroleum by means of the or- 
dinary chemical solvents. Most of these solvents, such as the acids 
and alkalies, have little or no action on it ; while alcohol, which 
acts feebly, and, ether and the volatile oils, which act energeti- 
cally, dissolve all its principles indiscriminately. The only prac- 
ticable method of analysis, therefore, is the process by distillation. 
When six ounces of petroleum were distilled, there was first 
procured, at a low heat, an ounce of nearly colourless naphtha; 
then another ounce of straw-yellow naphtha; then, at a higher 
heat, about another ounce, much more yellow, yet still fluid at 
60° Fahr.; next, a considerable quantity of a yellowish liquid, 
which concreted at 60° into a loose mass, composed of numerous 
crystalline needles and plates, in a yellow naphthous fluid; and, 
as the distillation went on, this matter became more and more 
solid, but even towards the end was not firmer in consistence 
than lard. The residual matter in the retort, when the heat had 
been raised to full redness, was a spongy charcoal. 
The naphtha, when rectified by a second distillation over a 
