CHEMISTRY. 61 



alcohol and water. Albumen resembles the white of eggs, 

 which is animal albumen; it abounds in the juices of many 

 plants, as cabbage, turnips, <fec. : its composition is identical 

 with that of gluten, which is as follows: 



Carbon, 54.76 

 Hydrogen, 7.06 

 Oxygen, 20.06 

 Nitrogen, 18.12 



100 



When exposed to air and moisture it undergoes decomposi- 

 tion, which is attended by the formation of vinegar and ammo- 

 nia. It possesses highly nutrient properties. 



WAX. 



Wax is found in many plants : beeswax may be taken as 

 the type of this class of bodies. It is insoluble in water or 

 cold alcohol, but dissolved by boiling alcohol, which separates 

 it into two proximate principles, viz: cerine and myridne. 

 Beeswax melts at 144, and when freed from its yellow 

 coloring matter, has a white crystaline appearance, Cerine, 

 boiled with a solution of potash, forms soap. Wax is supposed 

 to be derived from the oils of plants. 



RESIN. 



Resin is obtained from the pitch of various of the coniferous 

 family, such as the pine, hemlock, fir, &c. Resin is highly 

 inflammable, insoluble in water, but readily dissolved by 

 alcohol and essential oils: the principal resins are, common 

 rosin, copal, mastic and elemi. Common rosin is what remains 

 after the distillation of pitch to obtain spirits of turpentine. 



CAMPHOR. 



Camphor is a gum-like, white, brittle, semi-transparent sub- 

 stance, having a strong peculiar odor and an acrid bitter taste. 



6 



