89 
The natural bitter principle is of great imp or- 
ance in the art of brewing; it checks ferment- 
tation, and preserves fermented liquors ; it is like- 
wise used in medicine. 
The bitter principle, like the narcotic principle, 
appears to consist principally of carbon, hydro- 
gene, and oxygene, with a little azote. 
12. Wax is found in a number of vegetables ; it 
is procured in abundance from the berries of the 
wax Myrtle (yrica ceriferca ') : it may be likewise 
obtained from the leaves of many trees : in its 
pure state it is white. Its specific gravity is *9662 ; 
it melts at 155 degrees : it is dissolved by boiling 
alcohol ; but it is not acted upon by cold alcohol : 
it is insoluble in water : its properties as a com- 
bustible body are well known. 
The wax of the vegetable kingdom seems to be 
precisely of the same nature as that afforded by 
the bee. 
From the experiments of M. M. Gay Lussac 
and Thenard, it appears that 100 parts of wax 
consist of 
Carbon 
- 1 784; 
Oxygene 
- 5-544 
Hydrogene 
- 12-672 
otherwise, 
Carbon - 
- 81-784- 
Oxygene and hydrogene in"] 
the proportions necessary j 
f 6-300 
to form water J 
\ 
Hydrogene 
- 11-916 
which agrees very nearly with 37 proportions of 
hydrogene, 21 of charcoal, 1 of oxygene. 
