Re-action of Sulphuric Acid on Camphor. 431 
phuric acid proceeded from a portion of the coaly resi- 
duum, which had been completely destroyed by the nitric 
acid; for out of four experiments I: made, two of them 
afforded me not the least trace of sulphuric acid; the pre- 
cipitate formed by barytes was entirely soluble in nitric 
acid.) In order to separate the uncombined sulphuric acid, 
I boiled the astringent liquor which contained it with car- 
bonate of barytes*; I then evaporated it to dryness, and 
treated the residue with water: there remained a small 
quantity of sulphate of barytes mixed with a little of the 
compound of astringent matter and barytes. The aqueous 
solution contained the astringent matter pure, or at least 
separated from the sulphuric acid. I evaporated this solu- 
tion to dryness, and distilled the residue in a small glass 
retort with a balloon adapted to it. There came over, Ist, 
a yellow liquor of an acid and bitter taste, —I thought this 
was nitric acid; 2. sulphurous acid, which was ascertained 
by its odour, and by the combination it formed with oxide 
of copper; 3. sulphuretted hydrogen gas; 4. sulphur, pro- 
ceeding from the decomposition of the sulphurous acid and 
sulphuretted hydrogen; 5. a thick brown oily liquor, mixed 
with prussic acid and ammonia; 6. some small needle-like 
crystals, whose nature [ could not determine, on account 
of their small quantity; 7. a very puffy coal, containing 
ammonia, which was discoverable by the smell, and by a 
rod impregnated with weak nitric acid}. This coal con- 
tained a little sulphur; for, when burned with nitrate of 
potass, it afforded some sulphate by means of nitrate of 
barytes. ; : 
It follows from these facts, that the astringent matter, 
soluble in water, produced by the re-action of the. nitric 
acid upon the coaly residuum, is formed of nitric aeid, sul- 
phuric acid, and the coaly matter. 
I come now to the examination of the yellow substance, 
partly soluble in water. [ boiled it in water until the 
washings no longer precipitated barytes in the'form of sul- 
phate. The matter thus washed was of an orange-yellow 
colour, it had an acid and bitter taste, it slightly reddened 
turnsole paper; heated in a glass tube, it quickly melted, 
disengaging an aromatic odour, a little salphureous; boiled 
for severa) hours in water, it diffused a very strong smell of 
musk, and by distilling the water a liquor was obtained 
* The liquor digested twenty-four hours upon litharge, equally lost its 
sulphuric acid, but the carbonate of barytes appeared to me preferable. 
+ I think this ammonia was formed when the hot coal came into contact 
with the air. 
impregnated 
