On the Resinous Nature of Coal. 71 
material as the shale, but no doubt they will be found when sim- 
ilar impressions are discovered in the coal itself. Other impres- 
sions of leaves of Coniferee are in my collection, some in the 
anthracite, but although I have little doubt of their being leaves, 
they are not so undeniable as to be exhibited as proofs. 
I pass on to chemical evidence. © 
Lehman, in his Physiological Chemistry states that, formic 
acid is found in coal during the process of decay (eremacausis), 
and also that it is found in the berries of the Juniperus, and in 
the cones of several of the fir tribe. Redtenbacher finds formic 
acid in the leaves and twigs of the fir tribe during the ferment- 
ation (incipient eremacausis). A few years ago Pelletier and 
alther examined the products of the distillation of resin tar, 
and found therein two substances which they named retinnaphiha 
and retinnyle, and then the well-known naphihaline. 'The pro- 
gress of organic chemistry has since shown the former substances 
to the Toluole and Cumole of the present day. In 1849, 
Mansfield, at the instigation of Dr. A. W. Hoffman, investigated 
the products of the distillation of coal-tar from gas works, chiefly, 
however, with the view of ascertaining the boiling points of the 
Varlous eduets. 
He tabulates the neutral results of his distillation as follows: 
Ist. Benzole (2H 
2d. Toluole C14H® the retinnaphtha 2 of Pelletier and 
3d. Cumole C'*H'2  yetinnyle ‘ Walther. _ 
Ath. Cymole C2°H14 
and then Naphthaline. 
Twill now simply advert to the opinion of Goppert, in his 
ptize essays. He supposes the origin of the coal to be from a 
fermentation, and consequent eremacausis of vegetable matter. 
th how wish to show that all coal has been formed from nearly 
“¢ Same original materials, and probably nearly under the same 
vitcumstanees, from the anthracite to the most bituminous. This 
 caninel and bituminous coal from the Cumberland basin, and 
se Hillsboro’ ; specimens from Pictou and other localities 
n adde \ 
similarity in. their structure, marks of organisms, and peculiar 
facture, can leave but little doubt on the subject ; they exhibit, 
