284 31. Chevreul on Fatty Bodies, and [Oct. 



treated by an acid produced a fatty matter which was converted 

 into acid fat, fusible at 59°, and entirely soluble in potash, and 

 into a fat which was not acid, fusible at 80*5°. 



From these experiments we learn that the oil of the Delphinus 

 globiceps is converted by the action of potash into, 1 . Delphinic 

 acid; 2. The sweet principle ; 3. Margaric acid ; 4. Oleic acid; 

 5. A matter which is not acid, fusible at 95°; and 6. into a 

 matter which is not acid, fusible at 80.5°. 



We now proceed to a more particular account of the delphinic 

 acid.* We have already had occasion to notice the combination 

 of this acid with barytes, and the proportion in which the 

 elements of this compound exist ; the following is the method in 

 which their proportion was ascertained. The delphinate of 

 barytes was dried, and then heated in a capsule of platinum ; it 

 exhaled a peculiar aromatic odour, which is compared to that 

 produced by the distilled butirate of barytes : f .the residuum 

 was neutralized by sulphuric acid : 0216 parts of delphinate of 

 barytes yielded 0*150 of sulphate, which represent 0*099 of 

 barytes ; hence it consists of 



Acid 117 100*00 



Barytes ,.. 99 84*61 



216 



As 84*61 parts of barytes contain 8*88 parts of oxygen, it fol- 

 lows that 100 parts of delphinic acid neutralize this quantity of 

 oxygen in salifiable bases. 



After attempting different methods to separate the delphiniG 

 acid from the barytes, the following method was adopted. An 

 aqueous solution of the delphinate of barytes was concentrated, 

 and put into a long tube which was closed at one end, and a 

 quantity of a strong solution of phosphoric acid was poured upon 

 it ; the mixture was then left at rest for some hours, and the 

 following products were obtained ; 1 . An aqueous fluid contain- 

 ing the acid phosphate of barytes, mixed with a little delphinic 

 acid ; 2. An oleaginous fluid lighter than the first ; this was 

 separated by means of a small syphon, and was the pure del- 

 phinic acid. 



The delphinic acid resembles a volatile oil ; it is of a light 

 lemon colour, or even quite without colour, and has a very 

 powerful aromatic odour, analogous to that of cheese or strong 

 butter, or rather to the butiric acid ; when the odour was weak, 

 it resembled that of old oil from the Delphinus. It has a very 

 sharp acid taste, which is succeeded by the ethereal flavour of the 

 rennet apple : it left a white spot upon the part of the tongue to 

 which it was applied. The delphinic acid moistened glass, 

 paper, and stuff's, like essential oils ; it left on the bodies to 

 which it was applied an extremely disagreeable odour, which it 



* Ann. dc Chim. et Pbys. vii.367. (April, 1818/) 



■f The butiric acid is to form the subject of a future memoir. 



