@0 Jtnalijsis of Amlergr/s. 



choice of the ambergris. Several varieties are common in 

 commerce, the price of which estabhshes diiFerent species. 

 There is no doubt that this substance is fabricated, as cas- 

 torium is made in some countries of Germany. Baycn as- 

 sured me that he saw it made at Frankfort. This lather of 

 chemistry found that his memory did not deceive him ; and^ 

 what is rare amona; travellers, he told the truth. 



I have examined several kinds of ambergris used in com- 

 merce. Some of them vary in specific gravity, have a co- 

 lour more or less dark, with very little odour, and are flexi- 

 ble; others are of an ash-gray colour, prettv hard : in the 

 fejit place, others are almost stony, are scarcely soluble in 

 alcohol, and have no odour. 



The ambergris which I analvsed was not purchased. I 

 compared it with that in the cabinet of the Museum of Na- 

 tural History, and found no difference cither in the colour 

 ©r odour. 



Physical Properties. 



■ It is of an ash-gray colour, interspersed in the inside 

 with some yellow striae ; has a sweet mild odour, and grows 

 soft between the fingers. When reduced to a fine powder 

 it acquires a darker colour ; pounded in a glass mortar it 

 becomes agglutinated and adheres to the pestle. 



Its taste is dull and almost insipid, and when put between 

 the teeth it exhibits the same phaenomena as wax. 



Its specific gravity is from 844 to S49 : that of water 

 being 1000. 



According to Brisson the specific gravity of ambergris is 

 §263. The weight of the cubic inch 4 gros 58 grains; 

 that of the cubic fool 64 pounds 13 ounces 3 gros 47 grains. 



The specific gravity of blackish ambergris is 7S03. The 

 -weight of the cubic inch 4 gros 3 grains ; that of the cubic 

 foot 34 pounds 9 ounces 7 gros 33 grains. 



Chemical Properties. 



Exp. I. Ambergris, when placed on burning charcoal, 

 burns, and becomes entirely volatilized : it then leaves an 

 agreeable odour. 



If this combustion is effected more slowly in a platina 

 crucible it fuses, emitting the same odour; that of a fat 

 body is also distinguished. 



Nothing remains in the crucible but a black greasy spot. 



Fifty degrees of heat (Reaumur's thermometer) arc suffi- 

 cient to fuse it A brown brilliant liquid is thus obtained. 



At 80 degrees it is volatihzed under the form of white 

 vapours. 



Exp. 



