314 Dr. Smith on the Composition of Spermaceti. 



the acid products resulting from the distillation. To this was 

 added a solution of chloride of calcium, by which means an in- 

 soluble compound of the acids and lime was formed, and this 

 being decomposed by hydrochloric acid, furnished the acids for 

 examination. 



Although it was evident from what had been before done, that 

 no oleic acid could be present, yet to prevent any doubt, I made 

 a direct examination for this acid, by digesting a portion of the 

 acid mass with water and oxide of lead, and then treating the 

 lead salt thus formed with ether, which dissolved no portion of 

 it. The portion of the acid product not digested with the oxide 

 of lead, was found to consist of a solid acid, mixed with a very 

 small quantity of a fluid one, which I considered to be the same, 

 that has been before mentioned, as a probable impurity of sper- 

 maceti, and for the same reasons then stated, it was impossible 

 to make any examination of it. 



The solid acid, which was obtained pure by repeated crystalliza- 

 tion out of alcohol, exhibited the same physical properties, as well 

 as chemical composition, as the acid obtained from the saponifica- 

 tion of spermaceti, and which has been shown to be athalic acid. 



0.2715 of the acid gave 0.739 gram, carbonic acid, and 0.306 

 gram, water, making in 100 parts 



Carbon, _ _ _ 

 Hydrogen, - - - 

 Oxygen, - _ _ 



100.00 100.00 



0.8625 gram, of the silver salt, when burnt, gave 0.254 gram. 



silver, which indicates in 100 parts, 29.44 silver, 31.61 oxide of 



silver, and an atomic weight of 250. 



0.4S1 gram, of the silver salt, burnt with the oxide of copper, 



gave 0.932 gram, carbonic acid, and 0.368 gram, water. The per 



centage afforded by this will serve to show the identity between 



it and athalic acid. 



365.31 100.00 100.00 



