SUGAR, MOLASSES, CONFECTIONS, AND HONEY. 825 



Myrtle wax is separated from the fruit of Myrica cerifera (wax myrtle), indigenous 

 in the United States. It melts at 47.5 (Leroy) or at 49 (Chevreul). 



Japan wax is obtained from the dried fruit of Rhu sucoedanea, B. vernicifera,* and B. 

 silveslris, in Japan and China. Japan exported in 1877 wax worth about $'238,600, 

 Japan wax is nearly white or of a slightly yellowish green tint, has a sandy, short 

 fracture, an unpleasant tallowy odor, is often coated with a fine white crystalline 

 layer, and melts at 52 to 53. When old it is soluble in boiling alcohol and ether, 

 from both of which almost all again separates on cooling. It is used in polishing 

 wood and in the preparation of wax matches and candles. 



COMPOSITION OF JAPAN WAX.t 



The author regards the " wax" as a mixture of various glycerides and not as dipal- 

 mitin. The sample examined by him melted at 52. When rapidly cooled after 

 melting and again heated it melts at 42. On standing some time it regains its orig- 

 inal melting point. Melted with water it gives it an acid reaction. It readily 

 dissolves in commercial absolute alcohol on heating, but mostly crystallizes out on 

 cooling, leaving a softer and more fusible body in solution. The fatty acid obtained 

 by saponification is mainly palmitic, but contains acids of higher melting point. 

 One acid was found melting at a higher temperature than stearic. There was also 

 found an oily acid in small quantity. 



NEW SOURCE OF WAX.t 



A wax has been isolated from Sonchus oleraceus and Asclepias cornuti possessing 

 many of the qualities of beeswax, and these plants may be made a commercial source 

 of the wax. One morgeu of land planted with Asclepias should yield 50 centner of 

 hay, 1.25 to 1.5 centner wax, and 0.80 centner of caoutchouc. 



CHINESE INSECT WAX. 



This wax is a compound of cerotyl alcohol with a wax acid. The wax-forming insects 

 crawl on the under side of tender young twigs, probably of the Fraxinvs Chinensis, and 

 make an incision from which a liquid gushes forth, which soon coats the twig with 

 wax. In the course of three mouths the layer becomes about 0.25 inch thick. The 

 twigs are then broken off and the wax stripped from them by hand. This wax is 

 melted in boiling water to purify it. The stripped twigs are also thrown into hot 

 water to get more wax. In this last operation the insects become detached from the 

 wood and sink to the bottom of the containing vessel, whence they are gathered, 

 pressed into a cake, and fed to hogs. 



QUALITATIVE EXAMINATION OF BEESWAX AND OTHER WAXES. 



E. Donath || proposes the following tests for adulterants in beeswax : 

 Boil a nut-sized piece of the suspected wax with concentrated solution of sodium 

 carbonate for five minutes : 



A. An emulsion is formed, remaining after cooling, indicating adulteration with 

 rosin, tallow, stearic acid, or Japan wax. A new portion is now to be boiled with a 

 strong solution of caustic potash for some minutes and then NaCl added: (a) The 

 separated soap is in the form of a fine-grained magma : Japan wax. For complete cer- 

 tainty determine the specific gravity. If it is higher than 0.970, Japan wax is present. 

 (b) The separated soap is flocculent : adulteration with rosin, or fatty substances. 



"The wax from R. vernicifera is poisonous, and is the base of Japanese lacquer. 



t E. Buri, Arch. f. Pharm, May, 1879, 403 ; Proc. Amer. Pharm. Assoc., 1879, 436. 



t C. Kassner, Die Oel und Fettindnstrie, 22-86 ; Chem. Zeit. 1886,390. 



$ C. Theilman, Amer. Bee Jour., Jan. 13, 1886,24. 



II Dingl. polyt. Jour., 205, 131 ; ab. Fres. Zeit. f. a. Chem., 1873, 325. 



