G. E. Moore on the Waz of the Myrica cerifera. 319 
_- with distilled water, by which means they were obtained in a 
state of nearly absolute purity. 
_The above operations were very much complicated by the fact 
of the strong tendency of lauric acid to form an ether when left 
for any length of time in contact with alcohol. In this respect 
entrate ion ic alkali. 
almitic and lauric acids obtained in the preceding opera- 
subjected to combustion with oxyd of copper and 
, With the following results: 
grms. palmitic acid gave 0°54 grms. carbonic acid and 
8. water. 
Ty. Experiment 
Oza, 192 7500 14°96 
Bo 3a ee 12°87 
Op, ce tess Ges 695s Ee Ries 
} , 01857 grms. lauric acid gave 04917 grms. carbonic acid and 
0202 grms. water. 
Theory. Expe! 
Oe ery | ag 72-21 
hy, oS Ree 12°06 
0; or uh sy 32 16°00 ene we. 
A portion of the crude wax was repeatedly treated with fresh 
uantities of boiling alcohol until no urther solution ensued, the 
Properties of pure palmitin. Since according to 
alechol ideolven only four-fifths of the wax, the amount of pal- 
Ret present may be approximately stated at one-fifth of the 
The eriments indicate that the wax 
hole, 
rhe results of the foregoing exp ; 
‘the Myrica cerifera oman of about one-fifth part of palmitin, 
the remaining four-fifths being free palmate acid with a small 
wantity of laurie acid, the latter either free or in the state of 
With regard to the uses of this substance, its composition and 
abundance suggest it to the ch ist as the most convenient and 
*ecessible source of pure palmitin and palmitic acid, and it will 
