DR. ANGUS SMITH ON PEAT. 331 



The solid resin, as obtained by evaporating the solution 

 of naphtha or ether with which the peat is washed, is hard 

 and black, with a fracture like that of wax. When peat is 

 utilized as a source of oil, it is as a distillate that this is 

 obtained ; but here we have a crude, solid product, exactly 

 as it exists in the peat, and several trials gave 6 per cent. : 

 in some cases it rose above, and in some it was below this 

 amount ; but the variations found have not been great. 



This crude substance, analyzed in my laboratory, gave 



Carbon 73'39 I 73'545 



Hydrogen 10-78 io'49 



The melting-point was 57 C; after some purification, 

 6o°. 



After being kept at the boiling-point some time, during 

 which a more volatile matter came off, analysis gave : — 



Carbon 80*844 80*949 



Hydrogen 12*00 12*004 



If rapidly distilled, a white solid product is brought over ; 

 if slowly, an oil of a pale yellow, and a pleasant odour when 

 the empyreuma has been driven off. When 142 grammes 

 of the crude was distilled, the results were : — 



At 100 C. no product. 



200 1*5 of an aqueous liquid. 

 200-280 0*5 oil. 



325 boiling, a pungent smell of acetic acid. 

 352 30 cub. centims. of oil, and 2 of water. 



The specific gravity of the oil which came over below 

 350 was 0*857, aoove that temperature 0*819. 



The oils of the distillate were not analyzed separately. 

 That may be done some day ; but the amount being small, 

 a general result was sought ; and there was found 



Carbon 8386 



Hydrogen 12*70 



When this oil is kept for some weeks, it darkens like 

 some resin oils ; but I found one specimen which scarcely 



z2 



