8 ON ADIPOCIRE, AND ITS FORMATION. 
The alcoholic solution from which the oleate and other lead salts were precipitated by 
acetate of lead, was evaporated to dryness, and treated by ether, when another portion of 
oleic acid was obtained. It results from this that the quantity of oleic acid in the adipo- 
cire is small. The greater portion of the lead salt was insoluble in ether and alcohol, its 
fat was separated and added to the first crop of crystals which fell from the alcoholic solu- 
tion of the fat from saponification. To ascertain whether any glycerine was in combina- 
tion with the fatty acids in the adipocire, the aqueous solution from which the crop was 
precipitated by tartaric acid during the purification of the fat, was heated, filtered from 
small fat globules, and after removing the tartar deposit, subjected to distillation. The 
acid residue of the retort was neutralized by carb. potash, and after evaporating on the 
water bath was exhausted with absolute alcohol, which proved the absence of glycerine, 
as it gave on evaporating nothing but a small residue of colouring matter, which was 
yellow, and of a bitter taste. 
The distillate in this experiment had a goat-like smell, and it was doubtful whether it 
reacted acid to litmus paper. Baryta water was added to alkaline reaction, for which 
but a small quantity was needed, and the solution evaporated. There was but little residue, 
which, on the addition of a drop of hydrochloric acid and water, emitted a rancid smell, 
but no oil globule appeared; the volatile fatty acids may, therefore, be considered to be 
present in the adipocire only in faint traces. 
The following melting points were obtained :—The first crop of crystals from the alco- 
holic solution of the fat after saponification, which, when melted, cooled with a stellated 
surface, tried three times by dipping the thermometer bulb in the melted solution, and - 
noting the temperature when it became opaque, gave 55° for the solidifying point. Ina 
capillary tube, begins to melt at 57°, fluid at 59°, on cooling, opaque at 55°; this portion 
was taken from the capsule on melting the fat, before the whole mass was melted: another 
portion taken when all was fluid, and after stirring, gave the same results. 
The crystalline appearance of the second crop of crystals from the alcoholic solution 
after saponification, when melted and suffered to cool in a capsule, is similar to that of the 
first crop; in the capillary tube, begins to melt at 53°, fluid at 54° 55°, on cooling, crystals 
form in the tube at 51°, and is opaque at 50°. The melting point of the third crop of 
crystals was 50°.5. In ascertaining the melting points of the different fats described in 
this paper, I tried the various modes in use, and settled at first upon the following:—A 
beaker of distilled water (which must be boiled just before using, to prevent air globules 
settling upon the capillary tubes, which would falsify the result) is placed upon wire 
gauze upon a retort stand in front of a window, the thermometer hangs, by a string, in 
this water from another stand, and the lamp must be moveable from under the beaker 
glass. A piece of string is tied so loosely around the top of the (cylindrical) mercury 
