66 . Expenmev.ts q?i o Sul'sf:ance which possesses 



a brown liquid^ which became turbid by the addition of 

 water. When this was evaporated, a brown substance re- 

 mained, which was partially dissolved by cold water, and 

 the solution thus formed was rendered turbid by gelatine. 



The undissolved portion left by the alcohol was of a 

 blackish-brnun ; it was soft and tenacious, and appeared to 

 retain many of the properties of an inspissated fat oil. 



Bleached IVax, 



That which was employed in this experiment was the 

 white wax of the shops, which is sold in the form of small 

 roimd cakes. Tt formed with sulphuric acid a thick black 

 nivagma, and was not acted upon bv cold distilled water 

 ■vvhen washed with it upon a filter. Upon being digested 

 with alcohol in a sand-bath, a brownish solution was form- 

 ed, which upon cooling became very turbid, and appeared 

 as if fdled with a white flocculent substance. The same 

 operation was repeated with dift'erent portions of alcohol 

 until this ceased to act. The whole of the solutions in al- 

 cohol were then mixed, a large .quantity of distilled water 

 was added, and the alcohol was separated by distillation. 



On the surface of the remaining liquor, when cold, a 

 white crust was formed, which being separated was found 

 to possess the properties of spermaceti, and weighed 18 

 grains. The filtrated liquor was then evaporated to a small 

 quantity, became of a pale brown colour, and was rendered 

 turbid by solution of isinglass. 



Animal Fat. 

 lliis experiment was made upon the kidney fat of veal, 

 but I cannot take upon me to assert that the results would 

 have been the same willi every kind of fat. 100 grains of 

 it with one oupce of concentrated sulphuric acid, after some 

 time, formed a blackish soft mass; a second ounce of sul- 

 phuric acid was then added, and the whole was digested 

 and occasionally heated during nearly three months. Six 

 ounces of distilled water were poured upon the black pulpy 

 mass, and formed a thick uniform liquid, which, after di- 

 gestion for six or seven days, was when cold filtrated. The 

 liqoor which passed was of a brown colour, and upon evai* 



poration 



