282 Researches respecting the radical of Benzoic Acid. 
is correct may be ascertained by accurate analyses of other fluid oils 
in which the formation of benzoic acid, has been observed by mere 
oxidation in the air, or by action of nitric acid, particularly analyses 
of the oils of fennel-seed, anise-seed and cinnamon. 
If an inference be allowed from the behavior of chloro and cya- 
nobenzoyl, respecting the peculiar nature of the combination, which 
by the admission of water to the bitter almonds, causes the formation 
of prussic acid and hydrobenzéyl (crude oil of the bitter almonds), 
then it appears to us possible, without wishing to anticipate the exper- 
iment, that there is contained in the almonds a union of cyanogen with 
another body which is different from the hydrobenzéy] merely in the 
content of oxygen, so that by the admission of the constituents of 
water, hydrobenzdyl on the one side, and prussic acid on the other 
are formed; it farther seems to us probable, if amygdalin is a de- 
composition product of this combination with alcohol, that a similar 
exchange takes place as in the decomposition of chlorobenzéyl by al- 
cohol, with this only difference that the cyanogen or its constituents 
enters into the new combination, 
Benzoin in regard to its formation and physical properties posses- 
ses great similarity to the solid crystalline substances which are form- 
ed in other fluid oils; accurate analyses will unfold whether these 
(camphoroids) are the same in composition with the fluid oils from 
which they proceed, and whether the cause of their different states 
or their other varying properties lies in the manner in which their 
constituents are combined. 
Letter from Berzehius to Wohler and Liebig respecting Benzoyl 
and Benzotc acid. 
Accept my thanks for the very interesting communication of your 
united and important researches respecting the bitter almond oil. 
At your request Ihave examined my former experiments in re- 
gard to the composition of benzoic acid and find the result of your 
analysis wholly confirmed. 
I have also made as you desired an analysis of benzoate of silver, 
and from 100 parts of the salt previously dried, at 100° obtained 
by careful ignition, 46°83 gm. of metallic silver, which agrees as near- 
ly as could be expected with the theoretical result calculated by you 
(46°86.) 
You have remarked that my analysis of benzoate of lead, perfect- 
ly agrees with the same. A later analysis made with sulphuric acid 
