396 Mr. Johnston's Description and Analysis of Hatchetine, 



and it melts at 102° F. A further small portion of the brown undissolved 

 matter is taken up by boiling ether and alcohol. Obtained by evaporation 

 from these solutions, this second portion is colourless, or of a pale yellow ; 

 has the appearance and consistency of wax, and melts at 136° F., about 

 16 degrees lower than the fusing point of bees'-wax. The remaining portion, 

 which is almost insoluble in boiling alcohol and ether, has a dark brown 

 colour, and the consistence of soft wax ; its density is 0"965 ; it melts at 

 163° F., and boils at a temperature above 500° F. The vapour has a pe- 

 culiar and slightly bituminous odour. It constitutes about one-sixth of the 

 mineral mass. 



As it occurs in nature, therefore, this substance contains at least three 

 several compounds, agreeing in their indifference to acids, but differing in 

 physical properties and in their relations, especially to ether. The follow- 

 ing table exhibits a comparative view of the properties of the mixed mine- 

 ral — of its three constituent parts— of the specimens of fossil wax from 

 Moldavia, examined by Schrotter and Malaguti — and of the substances ob- 

 tained from it by the latter on distillation. 





How obtained, or 

 where. 



Colour. 



Consistence. 



Density. 



Melts at 



Boils at 



In Ether. 



Action of hot sul- 

 phuric acid. 



Ozocerite 



Found native in 



Brown. 



Hard,brittle. 



0-953atl5°C. 



62°C.=H1-6°F 



210°C.= <U0°F. 



Dissolves. 



p 



(Schrotter). 



Moldavia. 

















II. Ditto A. (Mala- 



Ditto. 



Ditto. 



Ditto. 



0-916 at 20-50 



84°C.=I82°F. 



300°C. =572°F 



Almost insolu- 



Chars a portion 



guti). 















ble. 



of it. 



B. 



By distilling A. 



0. 



Of wax. 



0-904 at 17°C. 



56°to57°C.= 

 133 to 13<t°F. 



300°C.=572°F 



In boilng ether, 

 very soluble. 



? 



III. Hatchetine? A. 



Urpeth Colliery. 



Brown. 



Of tallow. 





60°C. = 14.0°F. 



121°C.= 250°F. 



Largely soluble. 







B. 



From A, by cold 

 ether. 



Ditto. 



Ditto. 



885 



39°C.=102°F. 



p 



Wholly soluble. 







C. 



From residue, by 



Yellow. 



Of soft wax. 



? 



5S°C. =1S6°F. 



a 



Soluble in boil- 







- 



boiling ether. 













ing ether. 





D. 



Residue, after boil- 

 ing A in ether. 



Dark brown. 



Of wax. 



0-955 



73 C.=163°F. 



Above 260°C. 

 =500°F. 



Very sparing so- 

 ble in boiling 





















ether. 





The fossil wax examined by Magnus, seems to have been identical with 

 that of Malaguti, only it melted at 82° C. 



The inspection of this Table shews that these mineral products contain 

 at least four substances, possessed of different properties, chemical and phy- 

 sical, of which three are present in that from Urpeth Colliery. 



1. One charred by sulphuric acid and insoluble in ether. — (II. Ma- 

 laguti.) 



