on of Maoe. ' 319 



nitrous vapours are evolved, the substance acquires a yellow 

 colour, and readily saponifies with the alkalies, it retains its crys- 

 talline texture, and is in other respects apparently unaltered. When 

 iriuriatic acid is boiled on it, no action is perceptible, nor any change 

 in the substance. 



The oil of mace affords about one-half of this peculiar principle. 



The fatty portion originally referred to, was in combination with 

 potash, and was separated from it by muriatic acid, and when 

 purified, was found to have the following properties. 



It is insipid and inodorous, of a yellowish colour, breaking with 

 a fracture similar to tallow. 



It combines with the fixed oils, if aided by a little heat. 



It is readily fusible ; it boils at about 600°, and it may be heated 

 to this high temperature without much decomposition. It is in- 

 flammable ; it affords no evidence of containing nitrogen when 

 subjected to destructive distillation. Ether, at common tempera- 

 tures dissolves it readily ; cold alcohol dissolves it but sparingly, 

 but when boiled on it dissolves it readily, depositing it as it 

 cools. 



It combines with, and neutralizes the alkalies, forming true 

 saponaceous compounds. 



Sulphuric acid chars and decomposes it. Nitric and muriatic 

 acids have little or no action on it. 



I have lately ascertained the presence of benzoic acid., in the 

 following vegetable substances. 



Acharoides Resinifera, or Botany-Bay gum : the botanic name of 

 the tree yielding it, is Xanthorea Hastile ; this substance affords 

 about six per cent, of benzoic acid. 



The substance which is deposited from the essential oil of bitter 

 almonds, (See Journal of Science, vol. xv. p. 155, 376,) has all 

 the properties of benzoic acid. 



A deposit from the oil of Cassia, which formed crystalline fila- 

 ments, consisted also almost entirely of benzoic acid. 



