TRANSACTIONS 



OF THE 



GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



I. On certain Products obtained in the Distillation of Woody wit/j 

 some account of Bituminous Substances, and Remarks on CoaU 



By J. Mac Culloch, M.D. F.L.S. 



Chemist to the Ordnance, and Lecturer on Chemistry at the Royal Military 



»4cademy at Woolwich. 



T is well known that when wood and other vegetable substances 

 are submitted to destructive distillation, there is produced, among 

 other matters, a black dense fluid resembling molasses or common tar. 

 My connection with the Ordnance powder-mills having compelled 

 me to examine some of the jproperties of this substance, which is 

 obtained in large quantities in the process of making charcoal, I was 

 induced to extend my enquiries, in consequence of finding that the 

 nature of the compound has not hitherto been understood. 



Vol. II. A 



