THE PETROLEUM SPRINGS OF WESTERN CANADA. 323 
tated in the great laboratory of nature from animal substances, from those produced 
from bodies of a vegetable origin. Reasoning from analogy I should imagine it 
to be impossible , for recent researches have shown great similarity, in many cases 
identity, between the artificial products from animal and vegetable substances. 
See Anderson “ On the bases from Dippel’s Oil ” — Williams, quoted above, &e. &e. 
Besides the basic bodies above alluded to, these coal oils generally contain a num- 
ber of hydrocarbons belonging to various series—e.g. Benzole, C2 H® and its homo- 
logues.—Toiuole C!+ H*8.—Xylole, Cumole, &c., and solid hydrocarbons, such as 
Naphthaline C2° H8, Paraffine, dc. cc. 
The petroleums seem to be composed of hydrocarbons of a different class, 
having the formula C2 H®,—such as C12 H!2—C14 H14—C16 H16 &e. d&e., 
which are quite indifferent bodies, unacted on by nitric acid. Another substance 
exists in them which has been called Petrole C!® H?°, and is acted on by nitric 
acid, and causes the brown or black colour when the petroleums is treated with 
nitric acid (and probably sulphuric %). It has been said that Benzole exists in the 
light oils, but I know not on what authority. 
When the Enniskillen oil is distilled it requires a high temperature to drive 
over much oil, and this oil, when re-distilled, does not pass over readily till 
between 200° and 210° Centigrade—the product, again distilled, goes over at 
190°—200°, and by repeated fractional distillations, I have no doubt from the 
above experiments, we might obtain an oil boiling at a somewhat lower tempera- 
ture. 
When the Pennsylvania oil is distilled, it begins to pass over at about 130°, anda 
large proportion is distilled below 190°. When this product is re-distilled, a 
large proportion passes over below 150°. 
Hence the Pennsylvania oil contains a much larger proportion of light volatile 
oils than the Enniskillen oil, None of them, however, are probably of the 
formula C1? H1? which boils at 70°; probably they belong to the higher part 
of the Cx H™ series; but in both cases (E. and P. oil) they are pure hydrocarbons, 
containing no oxygen, at least not in such a form as to act on potassium and 
sodium. The metals remain quite unaltered and with metallic lustre. Possibly 
there may be hydrocarbons of the formula C= * H™ + present. 
Tam not aware that I have any further information to give you at present. 
The peculiar greenish colour is owing to fluorescence; if the Enniskillen oil be 
distilled very far, and the thick residue dissolved in hot alcohol, the solution is 
most powerfully fluorescent, but the dissolved substance is deposited as the solu- 
tion cools. I am not aware that this fact has been observed. The Collingwood 
oil contains a very large percentage of heavy oil, paraffine, &c.; the light oil boils 
at 150°-1909. 
Yours truly, 
Cuartzs Ross, Esq., C.E. Henry Crorv. 
