Professor Christison on the Petroleum of Rangoon. 119 



I am not aware that either this, or any of the European pe- 

 troleums, has been subjected to careful analysis; and I should 

 suppose no such analysis has been made, because no chemist, 

 even with a careless examination, could have failed to observe 

 that it contains a peculiar principle, the discovery of which would 

 have given the analysis publicity. 



The petroleum of Rangoon, at ordinary temperatures in this 

 country, is a soft solid, of the consistence of lard. Its specific 

 gravity, at the temperature of 60° Fahr. is 880, water being 1000. 

 At the temperature of 86°, it is of the consistence of thin paste, 

 and at 90° it melts completely, and forms a sluggish liquid, which 

 acquires more fluidity as the temperature rises. Hence in the 

 East, during the hot season, when it is dug for, it must be in the 

 fluid state, and consequently entitled to its vulgar name ground- 

 oil. It has a powerful naphthous odour, different from that of 

 most other petroleums. 



It is impossible to analyze this petroleum by means of the or- 

 dinary chemical solvents. Most of these solvents, such as the acids 

 and alkalies, have little or no action on it ; while alcohol, which 

 acts feebly, and ether and the volatile oils, which act energeti- 

 cally, dissolve all its principles indiscriminately. The only prac- 

 ticable method of analysis, therefore, is the process by distillation. 



When six ounces of petroleum were distilled, there was first 

 procured, at a low heat, an ounce of nearly colourless naphtha ; 

 then another ounce of straw-yellow naphtha ; then, at a higher 

 heat, about another ounce, much more yellow, yet still fluid at 

 60° Fahr. ; next, a considerable quantity of a yellowish liquid, 

 which concreted at 60° into a loose mass, composed of numerous 

 crystalline needles and plates, in a yellow naphthous fluid ; and, 

 as the distillation went on, this matter became more and more 

 solid, but even towards the end was not firmer in consistence 

 than lard. The residual matter in the retort, when the heat had 

 been raised to full redness, was a spongy charcoal. 



The naphtha, when rectified by a second distillation over a 



