11 (J Chemical Experiments an Guaiacum. 



in boiling water; their properties, therefore, approach nearer 

 to extract. Moreover, when these precipitates were redis- 

 solved in ammonia, and were as;ain separated by muriatic 

 acid, the above-mentioned properties became more evident. 



§ III. 



One hundred grains of very pure guaiacum, in powder, 

 were put into a glass retort, to which the usual apparatus 

 was adapted. The distillation was gradually performed oft 

 an open fire, until the bottom of the retort became red hot. 

 The following products were obtained : Grains. 



Acidulated water - 5*5 



Thick brown oil, becoming turbid on cooling 24'5 

 Thin empyreumatic oil - -' . 30*0 



Coal remaining in the retort - - 30 - 5 



Mixed gases, consisting chiefly of carbonic acid 

 and carbonated hydrogen - - o-o 



99-5 



The coal, amounting to 30-5 grains, yielded, on incine- 

 ration, 3 grains of lime. To discover whether any fixed al- 

 kali was present, £00 grains of the purest guaiacum (that in 

 drops) were reduced to ashes ; these were dissolved in mu- 

 riatic acid, and precipitated by ammonia ; the whole was 

 then filtrated, and the clear liquor evaporated to dryness; 

 but not any trace of a neutral salt, with a basis of fixed al- 

 kali, was perceptible. 



§ IV. 



From the action of different solvents on guaiacum, it 

 appears, that, although this substance possesses many pro- 

 perties in common with resinous bodies, it nevertheless dif- 

 fers from them in the following particulars : 



1. By affording a portion of vegetable extract. 



2. By the curious alterations which it undergoes when 

 subjected to the action of bodies which readily communicate 

 oxygen, such as nitric and oxymuriatic acids; and the ra- 

 pidity with which it dissolves in the former. 



3. By 



