Memoir on the Nature of fat Substances. 1S3 



To conclude: This sebaceo-cirous substance, as well as all 

 those formed by the action of the acids and alkalies on suets, is 

 united instantaneously with the alkalies, and is dissolved with ex- 

 cessive promptitude in ether, in warm alcohol, and is precipi- 

 tated from these solvents, sufficiently diluted, in the form of ge- 

 latinous flakes^ as wax will do. 



Action of the Muriatic Acid on Suet. 



The muriatic acid has not exactly the same action on suet 

 with the sulphuric and nitric acids: nevertheless it converts it 

 in part into an oil not very soluble in alcohol. I boiled ten 

 grammes of muriatic acid with as much beef suet, until the lat- 

 ter had acquired a fawn colour; when well washed in boiling 

 water and cooled it was of a soft consistence, owing to two 

 grammes and two decigrammes of oil formed during the reaction; 

 but a very small quantity of adipocire only was produced, and 

 the greater part of the suet remained without appearing to have 

 undergone any remarkable alteration. 



Action of the Alkalies on Suet. 



We have seen that the acids, in acting on the suet, metamor- 

 phose it into a substance very analogous to wax, and into oil 

 very soluble in alcohol. The action of the alkalies will offer to 

 us nearly the same results. Reef suet has been saponified by 

 potash ; this combination dissolved in a great quantity of water 

 did not deposit pearly matter such as has been described by 

 M. Chevreul. I poured into this soapy liquor muriatic acid in 

 a slight excess, which separated from it the fat matter, which 

 when well washed in boiHng water was kept in fusion during 

 some time, in order to vaporize the water which it retained in 

 its molecules : when cooled, it was softer than the suet which 

 had served to produce it, and contained nearly one-third of its 

 weight of an oil formed during saponificatioTi. This matter was 

 melted, then mixed with a weight of alcohol equal to its own; 

 the union immediately took place, and by cooling a concrete 

 white mass was obtained, which was strongly compressed in a 

 towel : there passed over a yellowish alcoholic liquid, which 

 when left to the air for some time deposited flakes of adipocire; 

 this liquid when evaporated left a fluid oil of considerable ran- 

 cidity: it difl'ers from most of the other fixed oils by the pro- 

 perty which it possesses of being dissolved in alcolioj and in 

 ether with die greatest facility. It is also united instantlv with 

 the alkalies, iuid forms a very thick mucilage. With auiiuonia it 

 gives a soap which water dissolves verv easilv; but when exposed 

 to heat it is decomposed, and gives off a part of the anunonia : 

 the oil becomes liquid again as before, but it retains pretty 

 I 3 strongly 



