Dr. Smith on the Composition of Speiinaceii. 315 



In the distillation of spermaceti there are other products found 

 than those just mentioned; but they appear only towards the latter 

 end of the process, and result from an elementary decomposition ; 

 they are water, carbonic acid, carbonic oxide and gaseous carbu- 

 retted hydrogen, carbon being left behind in the retort ; and these 

 products are very small in quantity, except when the vessel is 

 very deep and the heat strong. 



If proper care be taken, spermaceti can be distilled almost com- 

 pletely, there being left behind an exceedingly small black resi- 

 due. A circumstance which facilitates this complete distillation is, 

 having kept the spermaceti for some time at the temperature of 

 about 550° to 600° Fah. 



The results of the investigations upon the distillation are, first, 

 that it is impossible to distill spermaceti, without more or less of 

 it undergoing decomposition ; and secondly, that the products of 

 this decomposition are ceten and athalic acid, which fact serves 

 to substantiate the correctness of the formula already taken for 

 spermaceti, thus — 



One atom ceten, - - - C32H33 



One atom hydrated athalic acid, - CggllggO^ 



One atom of spermaceti, - - G^Jl^^O^ 



Nature of Sperm>aceti. 



From the foregoing researches, I feel somewhat prepared to 

 speculate upon the true nature of spermaceti, for although it may 

 be difficult to arrive at any positive conclusion with regard to it, 

 still we should not be deterred from forming a judgment upon 

 probabilities. 



For many reasons, spermaceti would appear not properly to be- 

 long to the class of fatty bodies, and consequently not composed 

 of an acid and a base. The fats properly speaking are known 

 to be composed of acids, more or less different in their nature, in 

 combination with glycerine ; and when Chevreul found athal, as 

 in spermaceti, accompanied with an acid, he considered athal as 

 the base in this case, as well as making it the great mark of dis- 

 tinction between spermaceti and the fats. 



Before going on to state the reasons why spermaceti should 

 not be considered a fat, it would be well to mention what I sup- 

 pose to be its proper position among the organic bodies. Sper- 



