208 
Mr. Hatchett's analytical Experiments 
and, being heated, a second precipitate of gluten was obtained, 
Which, when well dried, weighed g grains. 
The 500 grains of shell lac thus yielded, Grs. 
A. Extract - - - “2.50 
B. 
F. 
D. 
G. 
Resin 
| Vegetable gl 
uten 
- 454 - 5 ° 
14. 
E. Wax 20. 
49 1 * 
The mode of analysis adopted for the shell lac, must un- 
doubtedly appear less simple than that which was employed for 
seed and stick lac ; but, upon the whole, it was attended with 
advantages; for the shelllac being in small fragments, and not 
in the state of a powder, considerably facilitated the decantation 
of the solution in alcohol from the residuum ; and although, in 
this last, a portion of the resin was protected from the action of 
the alcohol, by being enveloped in the gluten and wax, yet, by 
the assistance of acetic acid, the remainder of the resin, as well 
as the whole of the gluten, were dissolved ; the wax was ob- 
tained in a pure state ; and a separation of the resin from the 
gluten was afterwards easily effected, by the method which has 
been described. As therefore acetic acid is capable of dissolving 
resin, gluten, and many other of the vegetable principles, it 
certainly may be regarded as a very useful solvent, in the ana- 
lysis of bodies appertaining to the vegetable kingdom. 
From the results of the preceding analyses it appears, that 
the different kinds of lac consist of four substances, namely, 
extract, resin, gluten, and wax, the separate properties of which 
shall now be more fully considered. 
