MR. BRODIE ON MYRICIN. 
Cerotin 
Sulphate of oxide of cerotyle . . 
Chlor-cerotal 
107 
Ceroten [parafiin] 
Chlor-ceroten 
Chinese wax 
— C54 H56 O2. 
= SO„C,, H55O+HO. 
rH4i Q 
*13 
H 
54 •**■54* 
^54 
fH. 
Cl 
35 * 
19 * 
— <f r /^33- 
I Hoo. 
•"54 
* 32 * 
Cl22* 
— ^108 ^108 — 
1^54 H53 O3. 
^^54 H55 
Melissin — CgoH02O2- 
Chlor-melal Og. 
^^n 4-5 
Melissic acid =^00 Hgo O4. 
Melen [paraffin] =Cgo Hgg. 
Palmitic acid — C32 H32 O4. 
Myricin (pure) =C92 H92 04=|p^^ O^’ 
^'^60 -*^61 
I might add to this list the acid C49 H49 O4, the constitution of which however, for 
the reasons I have given, I cannot consider to be made out with sufficient certainty. 
We should naturally suspect some intimate chemical relation between wax and fat 
from their similar appearance and properties. This suspicion gave rise to the idea 
that wax was convertible into fat, and to the hypothesis that wax was to be regarded 
as the aldehyde of stearic acid, and was capable of passing into that substance by a 
simple process of oxidation, a view of its chemical nature entirely without foundation. 
From the preceding inquiry, we arrive however at the knowledge of a no less remark- 
able relation between these substances. 
Margaric acid was recently the last of that singular series of acids of the type 
H^04, which commencing with formic acid comprehended acetic acid, the volatile 
acids of butter and the acid of spermaceti, and sethal was the last of the corresponding 
alcohols. In the wax acids and alcohols of which an account has been given in this 
and the preceding papers, we have bodies at the other extremity of the series stand- 
ing in a similar relation to margaric acid and to sethal, as that in which acetic 
and butyric acid, and alcohol and potatoe oil stand to them at the commencement. 
p 2 
