Memoir on the Nature of fat Substances. 135 



water, and muriatic acid was poured into it in slight excess, 

 shaking well the whole ; there was separated a greasy matter 

 which became fixed upon cooling, and which was much firmer 

 than olive oil fixed at the same temperature. This greasy mat- 

 ter well washed and melted weighed 17 grammes one deci- 

 gramme. The liquor fi-om which it had been separated gave 

 by evaporation four grammes of muriate of soda, made red hot, 

 which represents, according to Kirwan's valuation (and which 

 appears exact), two grammes 56 centigrammes of soda, which was 

 in combination in the 25 grammes of soap employed. 



The 17 grammes one decigramme of greasy matter were 

 pressed for twenty-four hours, at the temperature of 4-4° R., be- 

 tween several folds of gray paper, which absorbed the yellowish 

 oily matter, very soluble in alcohol, ether, and the alkalies, and 

 left two grammes three decigrammes of pure white adipocire: 

 nevertheless, it was dissolved in a small quantity of hot alcohol, 

 and the liquor was jiassed through a filter : on cooling it was con- 

 creted into a solid white mass, which was pressed in gray paper, 

 and which was melted. This substance greatly resembles white 

 wax : it has the external appeararice, the granulated fracture, 

 and the semi-transparency; but its consistency is drier, for it is 

 reduced into a white powder between the finders rather than 

 melt; nevertheless, it may he cut, presenting in its section 

 shining surfaces as in common wax, and like the latter it can 

 wax bodies ; but it is a little less fusible, and melts precisely at 

 .50^ R. like the adipocire obtained by the action of potash on 

 beef suet. To conclude : thrs adipocire of soap strongly resembles 

 all those of which we have spoken formerly, and like them it is 

 dissolved with the greatest facility in alcohol, ether, and the al- 

 kalies. 



It results from this analysis that 100 parts of white soap of 

 oil of olives contain ; 



Water 21'3G 



Adipocire 9 20 



Oil very soluble in alcohol 59'20 



Soda 10-24 



100-00 

 Of the Soap of PFooI. 

 I thought it right to examine the results of the action of pot- 

 p.i>h upon wool. Consequently, to a solution of this alkali kept 

 boiling in a glass vessel, I added successively ten grannnes of 

 xvhite wool : it was dissolved with a very perceptible extrication 

 of ammonia; the liquor diluted in water was of a brown colour 

 and limpid, after having deposited a slight sediment; I poured 



I 4 into 



