405 



Portuguese settlements ; and the same tree also produces a gum as 

 food for man, and another substance employed to fatten poultry. 



The substance examined by Mr. Brande resembles that procured 

 from the Ceroxylon Andicola described by Humboldt. The Ceroxylon, 

 however, is a tall palm-tree, growing about 1000 toises or more above 

 the level of the sea ; but the Brazilian plant is a low tree, and grows 

 in a country where it does not appear that there are any mountains. 

 By analysis also, these products differ entirely ; for that of Hum- 

 boldt, according to Vauquelin's analysis, consists of two thirds resin 

 and one third wax ; while that from Brazil is entirely wax, without 

 any perceptible quantity of resin. 



Mr. Brande received this wax in the state of a coarse pale-grey 

 powder, soft to the touch, mixed with pieces of bark, and other im- 

 purities, amounting to nearly 40 per cent. 



It melts at 206 Fahrenheit ; and if then purified by straining 

 through linen, it acquires a dirty green colour ; when cold it is hard 

 and brittle, and its specific gravity is 980. 



In water this wax is wholly insoluble ; but by boiling some hours, 

 it communicates a brownish hue to the water, and its peculiar smell. 



Alcohol also has no effect on it when cold. Nevertheless, by the 

 assistance of heat, two fluid ounces dissolve ten grains ; but eight of 

 these are deposited again as the solution becomes cool, and the re- 

 mainder may be precipitated by addition of water. 



Ether dissolves a small proportion at the temperature of 60 ; and 

 when boiled upon it, two fluid ounces dissolve thirty grains, but de- 

 posit twenty- six upon cooling. 



Fixed oils unite with it very readily by the assistance of heat, and 

 the compounds are in general perfectly soluble in ether, which ap- 

 pears owing to the solubility of these oils, although they are not ge- 

 nerally supposed to be soluble. 



According to Mr. Brande's experiments, four fluid ounces of ether 

 dissolve l fluid ounce of oil of almonds, l fluid ounce of olive 

 oil, 2 fluid ounces of linseed oil ; and with castor oil it unites in any 

 proportion. 



In alcohol, having the specific gravity of 820, castor oil is also 

 perfectly soluble ; but the other fixed oils are very sparingly soluble; 

 and even castor oil is scarcely soluble in alcohol that has the specific 

 gravity of 840, unless camphor be added to it. But even this ad- 

 dition will not render other fixed oils soluble in the same menstruum. 



When the wax was boiled in a solution of caustic potash, it com- 

 municated to the liquor a slight rose colour, but was not dissolved, 

 nor altered in its properties. 



The effects of a solution of pure soda were precisely similar, but 

 pure ammonia had scarely any effect on the wax. 



By boiling in nitric acid, the colour of the wax is converted into a 

 deep yellow ; and after being washed and cooled, it is found to have 

 become more brittle and harder than before ; but neither the fusibility 

 nor the inflammability of the wax are impaired, even by the alternate 

 action of acids and of alkalies upon it. 



