and Observations on Lac, 
203 
§n. 
ANALYTICAL EXPERIMENTS ON STICK, SEED, AND SHELL LAC. 
Lac, when placed on a red-hot iron, at first contracts, and then 
melts, emitting a thick smoke, of a peculiar but rather pleasant 
odour; after which, a light spongy coal remains. 
Distillation of Stick Lac. 
100 grains of the best stick lac, separated as much as possible 
from the twigs, were put into a glass retort, to which a double 
tubulated receiver and hydro-pneumatic apparatus were adapted. 
Distillation was then gradually performed, with an open fire, 
until the bottom of the retort became red-hot. 
The products thus obtained were, Grs. 
1. Water slightly acid - « - 10. 
2. Thick brown butyraceous oil - 59. 
3. Spongy coal - 1350 
4. A small portion of carbonate of ammonia, with a 
mixture of carbonic acid, carbonated hydrogen, 
and hydrogen gas, which may be estimated at 17.50 
Seed Lac. 
100. 
100 grains of very pure seed lac were distilled in a similar 
manner, and afforded, 
2 . Acidulated water - - - - 6. 
2. Butyraceous oil - - 61. 
3. Spongy coal - 7. 
4. Mixed gas nearly as before, but without ammonia, 
amounting by estimation to - 2 6 , 
