ACTION  OF  CHLORIDE  OF  ZINC  ON  FATS. 
431 
the  hydrogen,  were  attached  to  one  end,  whilst  to  the  other  end 
was  fixed  an  upright  leaden  cylinder,  filled  with  coke,  and 
moistened  with  diluted  sulphuric  acid.  On  passing  the  waste 
gases  and  steam  through  the  retort  containing  red-hot  char- 
coal, both  were  decomposed,  the  oxygen  of  each  uniting  with 
the  charcoal  to  form  carbonic  acid ;  the  nitrogen  and  hydrogen 
combining  to  form  ammonia  ;  then  together,  probably  forming 
carbonate  of  ammonia,  which  was  again  decomposed  by  the 
diluted  sulphuric  acid,  the  sulphate  of  ammonia  being  found 
remaining  in  solution.  This  solution  was  then  evaporated,  and 
in  July,  1857,  I  first  had  the  pleasure  of  obtaining  any  quan- 
tity of  crystals  of  sulphate  of  ammonia,  by  this  process,  from 
a  vitriol  chamber  in  actual  work. 
Mr.  Williams  does  not  intend  to  make  this  process  the  subject 
of  a  patent  Pharm.  Journal,  July,  1859. 
SAPONIFICATION  OF  FATTY  BODIES  BY  MEANS  OF  CHLORIDE 
OF  ZINC. 
By  Leon  Keafft  and  Tessie  du  Mottay. 
The  object  of  the  authors'  investigations  was  the  discovery  for 
some  South  American  merchants  of  the  means  of  transforming 
the  fatty  bodies  of  their  countries  into  stearic  acid,  and  after- 
wards into  candles.  The  conveyance  of  sulphuric  acid  by  sea 
was  to  be  avoided,  on  account  of  its  danger. 
Struck  by  the  great  analogy  of  the  action  of  sulphuric  acid 
and  chloride  of  zinc  upon  organic  matters,  they  thought  of  ap- 
plying the  latter  to  the  saponification  of  the  neutral  fatty  bodies. 
Economically  the  idea  was  very  feasible,  as  fused  chloride  of 
zinc  may  be  obtained  at  Marseilles  for  25  francs  per  100  kilo- 
grammes ;  when  packed  in  cases  or  casks,  it  may  be  conveyed 
anywhere  without  inconvenience.  The  application  remained  to 
be  realized. 
When  any  neutral  fatty  body  is  heated  with  anhydrous  chlo- 
ride of  zinc,  the  latter  melts  and  disappears  as  the  temperature 
rises.  Between  302Q  and  392°  F.  the  mixture  of  the  two  bodies 
is  complete.  If  the  temperature  be  then  sustained  for  some 
time,  and  the  product  washed  several  times  with  hot  water,  or, 
