390 Dr . Pearson's Observations and Experiments 
12. One hundred grains of white lac being digested in 1000 
grains measure of alcohol, the specific gravity of which was as 
835 to 1000, about half of the substance soon dissolved ; and the 
solution when cold was opaque, white, and thick, as saturated 
solution of soap in hot spirit of wine appears on cooling. By 
repeated affusions of alcohol on the residue of these 100 grains, 
all but about 15 grains was dissolved ; and this residue did not 
appear to be different from lac which had not been digested in 
this menstruum. This solution afforded, on evaporation, a 
light white opaque powder, which on being melted was a 
brittle, yellow, heavy solid, as the substance was before so- 
lution. 
Saturated solution of white lac in alcohol spread upon paper, 
cloth, wood, &c. on evaporation left a thin coat of resinous 
matter, which was not however bright and smooth ; and 
therefore this solution did not afford a good varnish. 
iv. Experiments to decompound white Lac by Fire. 
I shall only relate particularly one of these experiments, 
because among several which I made there was no material 
difference in the result. 
Eight hundred grains of purified white lac were put into a 
glass retort, to which was affixed an adopter with a large bulb 
to receive condensed vapours, and the hydro-pneumatic appa- 
ratus to collect elastic fluids, or gazes. There distilled over 
204 grains of yellow strongly empyreumatic oil of the con- 
sistence of butter, 400 grains of thin oil which had the smell 
of tar, near 20 grains of watery liquid containing a little acid, 
perhaps the pyrotartareous or the sebacic acid ; besides 307 
