and Observations on Lac. 
211 
It is completely soluble in alcohol, ether, acetic acid, nitric 
acid, and the lixivia of potash and soda. 
Water precipitates it from alcohol, ether, acetic acid, and 
partially from nitric acid ; and it possesses the other general 
characters of a true resin. 
Properties of the Gluten of Lac. 
It has been already observed, that when small pieces of shell 
lac have been repeatedly digested in cold alcohol, they become 
white, bulky, and elastic. By drying, these pieces become 
brownish and brittle ; the elasticity is also destroyed by boiling 
water, exactly as when the gluten of wheat is thus treated. 
If the pieces of shell lac, after the digestion in alcohol, be 
digested with diluted muriatic acid, or with acetic acid, the 
greater part of the gluten is dissolved, and may be precipitated, 
in a white flaky state, by alkalis ; but, if these last be added to 
excess, and heat be applied, then the glutinous substance is re- 
dissolved, and may be precipitated by acids. 
If the pieces of shell lac, after digestion in alcohol, be treated 
with alkaline lixivia, then the whole is dissolved, and forms a 
turbid solution. But, when acids are employed, the chief part of 
the gluten is alone acted upon, and a considerable residuum is 
left, consisting of the wax, some of the resin, and a portion of 
gluten, which has been protected from the action of the acid by 
the two former substances. 
The above properties indicate a great resemblance between 
this substance and the gluten of wheat ; I therefore have called 
it gluten, but, at a future time, I intend to subject it to a more 
accurate examination. 
