M. lleichenhach on Kreosote. 391 



and alkalies. Concentrated, it dissolves the deutoxide of copper, and 

 assumes a chocolate brown colour. At a boiling heat it reduces the 

 deutoxide of mercury, and is then transformed into a resin, which has 

 no longer the properties of kreosote. Nitric acid acts on it strongly, 

 and acid vapours are disengaged. It combines with chlorine, bromine, 

 iodine, phosphorus, and sulphur. Potassium thrown into it disap- 

 pears, gas is disengaged, and potash remains combined with thickened 

 kreosote. From this combination the kreosote separates by distilla- 

 tion. Concentrated sulphuric acid added in small quantities gives to 

 kreosote a reddish colour ; but when the quantity of acid is increased, 

 the kreosote becomes black. Of all the organic acids, the acetic seems 

 to have the greatest affinity for kreosote, uniting with it in every pro- 

 portion. 



This substance, when cold, forms two combinations with potash. 

 The one is an anhydrous liquid, of an oily consistence ; the other is 

 a hydrate, and crystallizes in white scales. All the acids, not except- 

 ing carbonic acid, separate the kreosote from these combinations. 

 With soda it forms combinations similar to those with potash. It has 

 a great affinity for lime and the hydrate of barytes ; with these bodies 

 it forms compounds of a dirty-white colour, soluble in water, but 

 which, when dried, assume the appearance of a rose-coloured powder. 



Kreosote, in a warm and cold state, dissolves a great number of 

 salts. Some are reduced, but the greater part are separated in the 

 form of crystals by cooling, such as the acetates of potash, soda, am- 

 monia, lead, and zinc, and the hydrochlorates of lime and tin. It re- 

 duces the acetate and nitrate of silver. 



Alcohol, aether, acetic aether, carburet of sulphur, eupione, and oil 

 of petroleum, combine with kreosote in every proportion. Paraffine, 

 though issuing from the same source with kreosote, has little tendency 

 to combine with it. Indeed, the combination cannot be effected un- 

 less eupione be present, and is in a direct ratio to the quantity of 

 eupione. Kreosote with difficulty dissolves caoutchouc, and only by 

 the assistance of boiling, differing very much in this respect from eu- 

 pione, which readily dissolves caoutchouc. 



If to a solution of albumen in a large quantity of water a single 

 drop of kreosote be added, the albumen is immediately coagulated. 

 When fresh meat is put into a solution of kreosote, allowed to remain 

 for half an hour or an hour, then withdrawn, and afterwards dried, it 

 may be exposed to the heat of the sun without putrefying, and in the 

 space of eight days it becomes hard, the colour changes to a reddish 

 brown, and the flavour is that of good smoked beef. Fish may like- 

 wise be preserved by it. It is prelty evident that kreosote is the anti- 

 putrescent principle of pyroligneous acid and of wood smoke. 



M. Reichenbach has ascertained that kreosote does not act upon 

 pure fibrin, which by itself is said not to be susceptible of putrefac- 

 tion. Its action upon the animal (Economy is deleterious. Placed 

 upon the tongue it occasions violent pain, and when poured in a con- 

 centrated state upon the skin it destroys the epidermis. Insects and 

 fish thrown into it immediately die. Plants also perish when watered 

 with it. M. Reichenbach has made experiments with this substance 



