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Chemical Examination of the Petroleum of Rangoon. By Robert 

 Christison, M. D. F. R. S. E. Professor of Materia Medica in 

 the University of Edinburgh, &c. 



(Read February 7. 1831.) 



At the close of the preceding session, the Council of the So- 

 ciety did me the honour of entrusting me with the chemical ex- 

 amination of several articles sent not long ago to the Society by 

 Mr Swinton, Secretary to Government at Calcutta. The arti- 

 cles in question are, 1 . Specimens of the black varnish used in 

 different parts of Hindostan and the Burmese territories, with 

 specimens of the juices of which these varnishes are said to be 

 compounded ; 2. Specimens of naphtha from Persia, and of petro- 

 leum from Rangoon ; 3. Specimens of wood-oil, a variety of fluid 

 turpentine ; 4. Specimens of crude caoutchouc, and of solutions of 

 it in wood-oil. 



The only one of these articles which has hitherto yielded re- 

 sults of such interest as to induce me to lay them before the So- 

 ciety, is the petroleum of Rangoon, which appears to contain a 

 compound inflammable principle hitherto unknown. 



The petroleum of Rangoon, termed by Mr Swinton Earth- 

 oil, and more generally in the East, Ground-oil, is probably the 

 same with what may be procured in various parts of our eastern 

 dominions, by merely digging a few feet into the soil. In the 

 vicinity of Rangoon it may be obtained in immense quantity for 

 the mere trouble of digging it. It is used in Hindostan as pitch 

 for all manner of wood- work ; and is likewise a favourite external 

 remedy for rheumatism, being employed for that purpose in the 

 way of friction. 



