Qg MR. hatchett's experiments 



of the refin, and a portion of gluten, which has been pro- 

 tected from the aclion of the acid by the two former fub- 

 ftances. 



The above properties indicate a great refemblance between 

 this fubftance and the gluten of wheat; I therefore have 

 called it gluten, but, at a future time, I intend to fubjeft it 

 to a more accurate examination. 



Properties of the Wax of Lac. 



Wax of lac. If fliell lac be long, and repeatedly digefted in boiling 



nitric acid, the whole is diflblved, excepting the wax, which 

 floats on the furface of the liquor, like oil, and, when cold, 

 may be collected ; or it may be more eafily obtained in a 

 pure ftate, by digefting the refiduum left by alcohol in boiling 

 nitric acid. 



The wax thus obtained, when pure, is pale yellowifh white, 

 and (unlike bees wax) is devoid of tenacity, and is extremely 

 brittle. 



It melts at a much lower temperature than that of boiling 

 water, burns with a bright {lame, and emits an odour fome- 

 what reiembling that of fpermaceti. 



Water does not act upon it, neither does cold alcohol j but 

 this laft, when boiled, partially diflblves it, and, upon cooling, 

 depofits the greater part ; a fmall portion, however, remains 

 in folution, and may be precipitated by water. 



Sulphuric ether, when heated, alio diflblves it ; but, upon 

 cooling, nearly the whole is depofited. 



Lixivium of potafh, when boiled with the wax, forms a 

 milky folution ; but the chief part of the wax floats on the 

 furface, in the ftate of white flocculi, and appears to be con- 

 verted into a foap of difficult folubility; it is no longer in- 

 flammable, and, with water, forms a turbid folution, from 

 which, as well as from the folution in potalh, the wax may be 

 precipitated by acids. 



Ammonia, when heated, alfo diflblves a fmall portion of the 

 wax, and forms a folution very fimilar to the former. 



Nitric and muriatic acids do not feem to act upon the wax j 

 the effecls of fulphuric acid have not been examined. 



When the properties of this fubftance are compared with 

 thofe of bees- wax, a difference w.ill be perceived - ? and, on the 



contrary, 



