CONSTITUENTS OF COTTON-FIBRE. 109 



in the analysis of cerosine, and by Lewy ^ in that of Car- 

 nauba wax^ which were as follows : 



Cerosine. Carnauba wax. 



C 8i-oo 80-36 



H 14*16 i3'o7 



O 4-84 6-57 



lOO'OO lOO'OO 



Its composition differs also but little from that of the 

 wax-like body derived from the Ceroxylon andicola. 



For the purpose of examining the product of decompo- 

 sition which is obtained from cotton-wax by the action of 

 dry caustic alkalies, I took some of the substance, added 

 caustic soda-lye, evaporated to dryness, and heated the dry 

 residue rather strongly, then added water and evaporated 

 again, repeating the process several times, until the product 

 was found to be entirely soluble in water. An excess of 

 acid was then added ; the matter left undissolved was filtered 

 off, washed with water, and dissolved in a little boiling 

 alcohol. The solution on cooling deposited white crystal- 

 line flocks, which after being filtered ofi* and dried had the 

 appearance of a white opaque mass resembling stearic acid. 

 This mass, when examined under the microscope, was found 

 to consist of minute star-shaped aggregates of needles. 

 When heated it was easily volatilized, yielding an oily 

 sublimate which became crystalline on cooling. It dis- 

 solved easily in alkaline liquids, and the solutions frothed 

 on being boiled. The solution in ammonia gave with 

 chloride of calcium a white curdy precipitate. In boiling 

 water it melted, forming transparent oily drops, which 

 became solid and crystalline on cooling. In a capillary 

 tube it fused at 85° C. and solidified at 77° C. The quan- 

 tity of substance at my disposal was just sufficient for one 

 analysis, which yielded the following results. 



* Journ. f. prakt. Chemie, B. xxxvi. S. 74. 



