Vj'ifu! Niiiies rcfju\li/ig vavious Objiftj. 8 1 



powdered maftic, than it was judged could be taken up. This was occafionaUy agitated 

 without heat, by which means the gum rcfin was for the mod part gradually diflblved. 

 One part of the oily folution was poured into a phial, and to this was added one part of the 

 folution of maftic. No opacity or other change appeared. Four parts of llrong caullic 

 volatile alkali were then poured in, and immediately (haken. The fluid was of a denfe 

 opake white colour, affording a ilight ruddy tinge when the ligh.t was fcen through a ihin 

 portion of it. 



In a fecond mixture four parts of the alkali were added to one of the folution of niaftic ; 

 it appeared of a lefs denfe and more yellowidi white than the former mixture. More of 

 the gum refmous folution was then poured in, but it (1111 appeared lefs opake than that 

 mixture. It was ruddy by tranfmitted light. 



The lad experiment was repeated with the oily folution inflead of that of maftic. The 

 white was much lefs denfe than either of the foregoing compounds, and the requifite opacity 

 was not given by augmenting the dofe of the oily folution. No ruddinefs nor other re- 

 niarkable>appearance was feen by tranfmitted light. 



Thefe mixtures were left at repofe for two days ; no feparation appeared in either of 

 the compounds containing maflic ; the compound conlifting of the oily folution and alkali 

 became paler by the feparation of a cream at the top. 



It appears, therefore, that the firft of thefe tlncc mixtures, fubjedl to variation of the quan- 

 tity of its ingredients, and the odorant additions which maybe made, is a good eau de luce. 



Chemical writers fpeak of a milky fluid, under the name of lac virghiah, made by 

 pouring tin£lure of benzoin into- fome perfumed water. As this fragrant balfam promifed 

 to be in fome refpeds fuperior to maftic, I was induced to try it. A fpirituous folution 

 was made of the brown benzoin, which happened to be at hand. To one part of the oily 

 folution firft mentioned was added one part of the clear filtered folution of benzoin. Thefe 

 mixed uniformly. Four parts of the cauftic volatile alkali were then added. The mixture 

 became opake, fawn-coloured and curdled, with much lefs pungency of fmell than was 

 afforded by the other alkaline compounds. The next day the opake part had confiderably 

 fubfided, and left a brownifli tranfparcnt though turbid fluid above. It appears probable, 

 therefore, that the acid of the benzoin had not only united with part of the volatile alkali, 

 but that the oily and refmous parts had likewife been difpofed to coagulate in this ar- 

 rangement. It is undoubtedly of no value in the prefent point of view. 



3. Soap of Wool. 



I H.AVE made a few experiments on the faponaceous combination of wool and alkali •. 

 A cauftic lixivium was made by mixing a folution of the cryftals of fodawith a due portion 

 of lime and water. To the clear ley, in a flate of ebullition, wool was added, a little at r. 

 time. It was fpecdily diflidvcd byftirring; but on account of the lixiviuin being too 

 ftrong, the compound appeared thick, and was poured out before, as it afterwards appeared, 

 the faturatlon of the alkali was efllfled. The compound, after being left in an earthen 

 vefTcl for feveral days, was found to be fcarcely more confiftent than treacle. Its fmeli was 

 ofl'cnfivc, though not ftrong ; it readily diflblved in water, but fcarcely lathered at all ; and 



• Philol'. Joiinnl, 1. 40. 



Vol.. I.— May i 797. M >y 



