22 



Dr. C. B. Radcliffe on Animal Electricity. [June 16, 



compare the alcohols obtained from them with the secondary alcohol from 

 mannite and from hexylene, and with the primary hexyl-alcohol which is 

 found in fusel-oil. 



XX. " Formation of Cetyl-alcohol by a singular reaction." By C. 

 Schorlemmer. Communicated by Prof. Stokes, Sec. R.S. 

 Received June 14, 1870. 



On heating a mixture of sebacic acid, C 10 H 18 4 , and caustic baryta, be- 

 sides the hydrocarbon C 8 H 18 , which I have described in a former commu- 

 nication*, other products are formed, amongst which there is a solid body, 

 which, by several crystallizations from alcohol, was obtained in small white 

 crystals. 



On analyzing it, Mr. Dearden obtained results which led to the formula 

 C 18 H 34 0, which is that of cetyl-alcohol : — 



Calculated. Found. 



I. II. 



% ... 



192 



79-34 



79-3 



78-9 



H 31 ... 



34 



14-05 



J 3-8 



13-9 







16 



6-61 









242 



100-00 







This body has not only the composition but also the characteristic pro- 

 perties of cetyl-alcohol ; it melts at 49°, and solidifies again at the same 

 temperature. 



The formation of this compound is certainly very singular, and perhaps 

 the more so as cetyl-alcohol is so easily oxidized to sebacic acid by the 

 action of nitric acid. I intend to obtain larger quantities of it by the above 

 reaction and to investigate it. 



XXI. "Researches in Animal Electricity." By C. B. Radcliffe, 

 M.D. Communicated by Charles Brooke, M.A. Received 

 May 19, 1870. 



(Abstract.) 

 Part I. 



The subjects of the present inquiry are three in number : — 1. The elec- 

 trical phenomena belonging to living nerve and muscle during rest ; 2. 

 The electrical phenomena which mark the passing of nerve and muscle 

 from the state of rest into that of action ; and 3. The workings of voltaic 

 electricity, and of electricity generally, upon nerve and muscle. 



1. The electrical phenomena belonging to living nerve and muscle during 



the state of rest. 



Argument. — Living nerve and muscle have an electricity of their own, 

 which fails by degrees as life dies out, and is wanting altogether after 

 * Proc. Boy. Soc. vol. xvi. p. 376. 



