and Observations on Lac. 207 
and, when dry, were brittle, and of a pale brown colour ; the 
whole then weighed 94 grains. 
D. These 94 grains were digested in diluted muriatic acid ; 
and the acid, being afterwards saturated with solution of car- 
bonate of potash, afforded a flocculent precipitate, (resembling 
that obtained from solutions of vegetable gluten,) which, when 
dry, weighed 5 grains. 
E. Alcohol -acted but feebly on the residuum;, it was 
therefore put into a matrass, with three ounces of acetic acid, 
and was suffered to digest without heat during six days, the 
vessel being at times gently shaken ; the acid thus assumed a 
pale brown colour, and was very turbid. The whole was then 
added to half a pint of alcohol, and was digested in a sand-bath ; 
by which a brownish tincture was formed, and at the same time 
a quantity of a whitish flocculent substance was deposited, which, 
being collected, well washed with alcohol on a filter, and dried, 
weighed 20 grains. 
This substance was white, light, and flaky, and, when rubbed 
by the nail, it became glossy, like wax ; it also easily melted, was 
absorbed by heated paper, and, when placed on a coal or hot 
iron, emitted a smoke, the odour of which very much resembled 
that of wax, or rather spermaceti. 
F. The solution formed by acetic acid and alcohol, being 
filtrated, was poured into distilled water, which immediately 
became milky ; and, being heated, the greater part of the resin 
which had been dissolved assumed a curdy form, and was partly 
separated by a filter, and partly by distilling off the liquor ; this 
portion of resin amounted to 51 grains. 
G. The filtrated liquor, from which this resin had been se- 
parated, was saturated with a solution of carbonate of potash ; 
mdccciv, E e 
