DISTILLATION OF SPERMACETI. 239 



Conclusion as regards the Composition of Spermaceti considered 

 as a fat. — Before coming to this conclusion a resume will be 

 made of the results that have been arrived at in the different 

 steps of this investigation. As regards athal, or what is con- 

 sidered the base of spermaceti, nothing has been brought to 

 light to change in any way the statements made concerning 

 its nature. Oleic and margaric acids have been proved not to 

 exist in spermaceti. From the saponification of spermaceti, 

 prepared as it was for these experiments, a small quantity of a 

 fluid acid was obtained, but for reasons before stated considered 

 as an impurity. The acid product arising from the saponi- 

 fication of spermaceti was found to consist almost entirely of 

 athalic acid. 



From these facts spermacti, considered as a fat (I make this 

 qualification, as a little farther on it will be attempted to be 

 shown that it is not, properly speaking, a fatty body), is com- 

 posed of one acid and one base, the former being athalic acid 

 and the latter athal, and it is therefore an athalate of athal, con- 

 sisting of .. . . , . 



o Atomic weight. 



One atom anhydrous athalic acid .. C32 H31 O3 249.18 



One atom anhydrous athal C32 H33 O 235.18 



One. atom spermaceti Ce4 He4 O4 484.36 



That this is no doubt the true composition of spermaceti 

 will be seen by the results afforded by the analysis of this sub- 

 stance prepared by crystallizing it out of absolute alcohol. 



Exp. 1. — 0.306 gramme spermaceti burnt with the bioxide 

 of copper gave 0.8945 gramme carbonic acid and 0.370 gramme 

 water. 



Exp. 2. — 0.2385 gramme spermaceti burnt with the bioxide 

 of copper gave 0.691 gramme carbonic acid and 0.282 gramme 

 water. 



Exp. 3. — 0.408 gramme spermaceti burnt with the chromate 

 of lead gave 1.198 gramme carbonic acid and 0.486 gramme 

 water. 



Exp. 4. — 0.314 gramme spermaceti burnt with the bioxide 

 of copper and oxyen gave 0.913 gramme carbonic acid and 

 0.370 gramme water. 



Exp. 5. — 0.212 gramme spermaceti burnt with the bioxide 

 of copper and chlorate of potash gave 0.625 gramme carbonic 

 acid and 0.252 gramme water. 



