( 124). 
On the Composition of the Petroleum of Rangoon, with Remarks on 
Petroleum and Naphtha in general. By Wivu1am Grecory, 
M. D., F. R.S. E., Lecturer on Chemistry, Edinburgh, &c. 
(Read 15th December 1834. ) 
In the month of August 1830, Rercnensacn published his 
first memoir on the products of the destructive distillation of 
organic bodies, in which he described a new principle, to which 
he gave the name of Paraffine, as constantly occurring among 
those products. Not long after, in 1831, Dr Curisrison read 
before this Society a paper, in which he described a substance 
contained in the petroleum of Rangoon, to which he affixed the 
name of Petroline. On comparing the properties of these two 
substances, it was found that they agreed so nearly, that no 
doubt could be entertained that they were one and the same. 
As the priority of discovery rests with Dr Reicyenzacn, the 
name of Paraffine is now generally adopted. The properties of 
paraffine are as follows :—It is white, tasteless, inodorous, rather 
tough, lighter than water, fusible at 125° or 130° F., and it dis- 
tils unchanged at a higher temperature. It resists the action of 
the strongest acids and alkalies ; and, finally, when pure, it burns 
with a bright flame without smoke. In a second memoir pub- 
lished by RercuEensBacn in 1831, he described another of the 
products of destructive distillation, under the name of Eupione. 
This body, according to the latest experiments*, is a liquid, colour- 
,* Scuwetccer Scrpxt’s Journal fiir Praktische Chemie, April 1834. 
