Dana on Wax. 29a 



HI. The substances which had been dissolved by the alco- 

 hol consisted of two portions, viz. the wax, which was of an 

 apple-green colour, and a reddish brown substance ; this sub- 

 stance was supposed to be resinous, and the contents of the 

 retort were therefore digested in acetic acid ; the acid soon 

 became of a reddish brown colour, and dissolved nearly the 

 whole of the matter in the retort, leaving the wax. The acid so- 

 lution, together with a small portion of insoluble reddish mat- 

 ter, were carefully separated from the wax. The wax being 

 dried and melted, weighed 16 grains. 



IV. The acetic acid solution was evaporated to dryness, 

 and a dark brown matter was obtained ; it was almost totally 

 soluble in warm alcohol, from which it was precipitated by 

 water ; it was supposed therefore to consist chiefly of resin, 

 with a small portion of extractive matter, and may be called 

 resino-extractive ; it weighed 2.5 grains. 



V. The matter insoluble in alcohol consisted of two parts, 

 viz. the kernels and a fine-grained black powder, having very 

 much the appearance of fine gunpowder ; the powder wais 

 carefully separated from the kernels by a wire sieve, and 

 weighed 7.5 grains. The kernels were found to weigh 23.75 

 grains. 



From this analysis it appears that the entire berries con- 

 sist of 



Wax 32.00 



Resino-extractive . . . 5.00 



Black powder .... 15.00 



Kernels 47.00 



99.50 

 Loss .50 



100.00 



The chemical properties of the wax and of the black pow 

 der may be made the subject of another communication. 



