Dr. Smith on the Composition of Spermaceti. 311 



Conclusion as regards the Composition of Spermaceti consid- 

 ered as a fat. — Before coming to this conclusion, a resume will 

 be made of the results, that have been arrived at in the different 

 steps of this investigation. As regards athal^ or what is consider- 

 ed the base of spermaceti, nothing has been brought to light to 

 change in any way the statements made concerning its nature. 

 Oleic and margaric acids have been proved not to exist in sper- 

 maceti. From the saponification of spermaceti,, prepared as it 

 was for these experiments, a small quantity of a fluid acid was 

 obtained, but for reasons before stated, considered as an impurity. 

 The acid product arising from the saponification of spermaceti, 

 was found to consist almost entirely of athalic acid. 



From these facts spermaceti, considered as a fat, (I make this 

 qualification, as a little farther on it will be attempted to be shown 

 that it is not properly speaking a fatty body,) is composed of one 

 acid and one base, the former being athalic acid., and the latter 

 athal, and it is therefore an athalate of athal, consisting of 



One atom anhydrous athalic acid, C 

 One atom anhydrous athal. 

 One atom spermaceti, . 



That this is no doubt the true composition of spermaceti, will 

 be seen by the results afforded by the analysis of this substance, 

 prepared by crystallizing it out of absolute alcohol. 



Exp. 1. 0.306 gram, spermaceti burnt with the bioxide of 

 copper, gave 0. 8945 gram, carbonic acid, and 0.370 gram, water. 



Exp. 2. 0.2385 gram, spermaceti burnt with the bioxide of 

 copper, gave 0.691 gram, carbonic acid, and 0.282 gram, water. 



Exp. 3. 0.408 gram, spermaceti burnt with the chromate of 

 lead, gave 1.198 gram, carbonic acid, and 0,486 gram, water. 



Exp. 4. 0.314 gram, spermaceti burnt with the bioxide of 

 copper and oxygen, gave 0.913 gram, carbonic acid, and 0.370 

 gram, water. 



Exp. 5. 0.212 gram, spermaceti burnt with the bioxide of 

 copper and chlorate of potash, gave 0.625 gram, carbonic acid, 

 and 0.252 gram, water. 



Comparing the per centage of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, 

 afforded by these experiments, with that given by the supposed 

 composition of spermaceti, (Cg^Hg^O^,) we have in 100 parts 



