obtained in the Distillation of Wood^ "isfc. 7 



in the darker. It is slightly soluble in the fat oils, in tallow and in 

 wax, but Is considerably more soluble in drying oil. In all these 

 cases its solubility varies, from the same causes as those which affect 

 its solubility In alcohol. Naphtha, whether pale or brown, has no 

 action on It when cold and takes up but a very minute proportion 

 even with the assistance of heat. It fuses into an uniform mass with 

 sulphur, with resin and with asphaltum. . 



Acetic acid, which dissolves so many of the compound inflam- 

 mables, effects a compleat solution of it and in large proportion, 

 and this compound is precisely similar to the empyreumatic acid as 

 it proceeds from the iron retorts in which the charcoal Is distilled. 

 It would be desirable in an ceconomlcal point of view, to discover a 

 method of freeing the acid from the pitch. After many trials, by 

 combining the foul acid with various bases and again separating it, 

 it was always found to retain the overpowering smell of wood-tar. 

 If the acid is combined with the pitch at a high temperature, a large 

 proportion of It separates in the form of tar on cooling. Muriatic 

 acid, after long boiling on the pitch, became brown and dissolved a 

 little of it. 



By digestion with sulphuric acid it was dissolved forming a brown 

 oily looking fluid, sulphureous acid being at the same time disen- 

 gaged. By dilution with water, a smell resembling peppermint was 

 produced, as happens In a similar case with camphor, and the pitch 

 was thrown down. The action of the red nitrous acid on it is 

 violent ; the acid is decomposed with great ebullition and a portion 

 of the pitch is converted into coal. In diluted nitric acid it dissolves 

 and produces an uniform brown fluid. On continuing to apply 

 nitrous acid according to the process of Mr. Hatchett, solutions 

 similar to those which he has described as having been obtained from 

 the resins and bitumens, are produced. 



