( 475 ) 



§ 5. Cholesterol-Palmitate at 80° is a clear, isotropous liquid 

 as thick as simple syrup. On cooling, the isotropous phase is con- 

 verted at 80° with green opalescence into a fairly clear, transparent, 

 doubly-refracting jelly A, which rapidly assumes a thinner consistency, 

 and becomes at the same time more turbid, and finally solidifies at 

 77.°2, with a perceptibte calorie effect, to a crystalline mass S. In 

 this case also, a doubly-refracting phase B appears to be traversed 

 when the mass is being melted, before the occurrence of the isotropous 

 fusion L; I estimate the transition temperature at about 78°. 



§ 6. With Cholesterol-Stearate, I did not succeed in demonstrating 

 the occurrence of a doubly refracting liquid. The isotropous, thick- 

 fluid fusion solidities at 81° to well-formed crystals S. 



§ 7. Cholesterol- He ptylate exhibits, in undercooled fusion only, one 

 doubly-refracting liquid phase which is labile in regard to the solid 

 phase S. The compound behaves, thermically, analogously to the 

 caprylate. The temperature of soliditication is at 110.°5, the tran- 

 sition-temperature of the labile doubly-refracting phase lies a little 

 lower. 



Of Cholesterol- Arachate, I could only obtain an impure product 

 on which no further communications will be made. The ester could 

 not be purified properly as it is not soluble to any extent in the 

 ordinary solvents. The crude substance obtained does not seem to 

 exhibit any anisotropous liquid phases. 



§ 8. Micro-physical behaviour of these substances. If a 

 little of the pure solid cho tester ol-laurate is melted on an object 

 glass to an isotropous, clear liquid L, and the same is allowed to 

 cool very slowly, there is formed, usually, a very strongly doubly- 

 refracting, liquid phase, gleaming with lucid interference colours. It 

 consists of large, globular drops, which exhibit the black axial cross 

 and, on alternate heating and cooling, readily amalgamate to a syrupy, 

 highly coloured, but mainly yellowish-white liquid. This phase will 

 be called A in future. On cooling, it gradually thickens, until no 

 more movement of the mass is noticed, which continues to exhibit 

 a granular structure. Around this mass an isotropous border liquid 

 is found. At first I felt inclined to look upon this tenaceous, isotropous 

 mass, which is visibly different from the fusion L, as a distinct 

 phase differing from the fusion A. But on using a covering glass 

 and pressing the same with a pair of pincers, or by stirring with 

 a very thin platinum wire, I found that this border liquid is only 



