16 



VEGETABLE WAX FBOW BBAZIX. 



Little soluble 

 in. e:h-r. 



Very soluble 

 in oil. 



Tbt corn- 



slightly in 

 alcohol 



grains rhay be afterward precipitated by the addition of water, 

 or may be obtained unaltered by evaporating the alcohol. 

 The solution ofthe wax in alcohol has a slightly green tinge. 



4. Sulphuric ether, spec. grav. 0*7563, dissolves a very 

 minute portion of the wax, at the temperature of 60*. 



Two fluid ounces of boiling sulphuric ether dissolve thirty 

 grains ofthe wax, of which twenty-six grains are deposited 

 by cooling the solution, and the remaining four grains may 

 be obtained by allowing the ether to evaporate spontaneously. 



5. The fixed oils very readily dissolve the wax at the tem- 

 perature of boiling water, and form with it compounds of art 

 intermediate consistence, very analogous to those which are 

 obtained with common beeswax. 



In examining some combinations which I had made of tlje 



pound eoiuble vegetable wax with olive oil, I was surprised to find them per- 

 m ether, and ^ . . ... ^ 



fectlysoluble in ether, and sparingly solublein boiling alcohol. 



As it is commonly stated, that the fixed oils are insoluble 

 in ether and in alcohol, I was led to attribute the solution of 

 the oil, in these instances, to its being conibined with the 

 wax ; but subsequent experiments, of which I shall state the 

 general results, have shown me, that these opinions are 

 erroneous. 



Four fluid ounces of sulphuric ether, Spec. grav. 0*7563, 

 dissolve a fluid ounce and a quarter of the expressed oil of 

 almonds; of olive oil, the same quantity of the, ether dis- 

 solves a fluid ounce and a half; of linseed oil, two fluid 

 ounces and a half; and castor oil is soluble in any propor- 

 tion in sulphuric ether of the above specific gravity. 



The expressed oils of almonds and of olives are very spa- 

 ringly soluble in alcohol, spec. grav. 0*820. 



Liufieedoil is more soluble than the two former. Fout 

 fluid ounces of alcohol, spec. gray. 0'820, dissolve nearly 

 one fluid drachm. 



Castor oil is perfectly soluble in every proportion in alco- 

 hol, spec. grav. 0*820. In alcohol of a higher specific gra- 

 vity, as 0-840, it is very sparingly soluble*. 



Fixed oils 

 Hohible in 

 ether. 



and sparingly 

 ia alcohol. 



CJastor oil 

 completely 

 soluble in 

 alcohol. 



Adulteration 

 of essential 



•ils. 



• The solubility of castor oil in alcohol was mentioned to me some 

 months ago by Dr. Wollaston, who also informed me, that it had on this 

 account been employed to adulterate certain essential oils of high value, 

 especially the oil of dotes. 



As 



