Dr. Smith on the Composition of Spermaceti. 305 



oration no residue, it was obtained perfectly free from athal. By 

 this process a small portion of the lime salt is dissolved, which 

 can subsequently be obtained by treating the athal, from which 

 the alcohol has been evaporated, with ether, which leaves undis- 

 solved the lime salt, and this is added to what remains upon the 

 filter. 



The lime salt was dried, and decomposed by dilute hydrochlo- 

 ric acid, which furnished me with the acids arising from the sa- 

 ponification, and like most of the fat acids it floats about the wa- 

 ter in flakes, which melt and collect at the surface, if the water . 

 be heated. 



Having now the acids free from undecomposed spermaceti and 

 athal, the first part of the examination, that is to say, the exami- 

 nation for oleic acid, was carried on as follows. 



Exam,ination for oleic acid in spermaceti. — A portion of the 

 acid was digested with water and the protoxide of lead, at a tem- 

 perature of 212° Fah., and in the course of a short time a lead 

 salt was formed, which after being perfectly dried, was treated 

 with cold ether, that dissolved no portion of the salt, a circum- 

 stance that could not have occurred, had the oleate of lead been 

 present, as this salt is soluble in ether, and it is one of the means 

 used to separate oleic acid from other fatty acids. 



The above is the most direct way that we have of deciding 

 upon the presence of oleic acid, and the indication which it af- 

 fords in the present case, was of too positive a character, to ad- 

 mit for a moment the existence of this acid in the substance ex- 

 amined. But this single evidence, although sufiicient of itself, 

 has other indirect proofs to support it. 



Redenbacker,* in his examination of the products of the dis- 

 tillation of oleic acid, observed the fact, that if this acid, or any 

 substance containing it, be distilled, that sebacic acid is invariably 

 formed. To this test spermaceti has been subjected by both Red- 

 enbacker and myself, with similar results, that is to say, that in 

 the products afforded by the distillation of spermaceti, no trace of 

 sebacic acid is to be found. 



The products furnished by the oxidation of spermaceti by ni- 

 tric acid, is another proof of the non-existence of oleic acid in this 



* Redenbacker properly speaking was the first to generalize this fact, for it has 

 been a long while since it was observed. 

 Vol. xLin, No. 2.— July-Sept. 1842. 39 



