ON SOME NEW LACTATES. 
53 
From these facts I think I may conclude that I have ob- 
tained lactic ether. 
In the preparation of this product, all the lactic acid of 
the lactate of lime, liberated by sulphuric acid, does not 
enter into combination with the oxide of ethule; for, by 
diluting the residue remaining in the retort, filtering, in 
order to separate the sulphate of lime, and saturating by 
chalk, sulphate of lime is obtained, and is precipitated; 
there is found in the liquor a small quantity of lactate of 
lime, which is easily removed from it by evaporation. 
II. LACTATE OP OXIDE OF METHULE. 
By substituting pyroxilic spirit for alcohol in the fore- 
going preparation, I hoped to obtain lactate of the oxide of 
methule, but my expectations were deceived, for I could 
not detect in the product which I obtained any other pro- 
ducts than those which belong to pyroxilic spirit: thus, for 
example, the liquid put in contact with hydrated lime does 
not assume the form of a jelly, as in the foregoing case; never- 
theless, if it be filtered, the presence of a small quantity 
of lime may be detected in it ; but it is impossible to obtain 
the crystallised salt by the evaporation of the liquid. When 
the experiment was repeated with pure pyroxilic spirit, 
absolutely the same results were obtained. Now, since 
pyroxilic spirit possesses the property of dissolving certain 
alkaline oxides, as was proved, a long time ago, by Dumas, 
and, among others, oxide of calcium, it must be admitted 
that the small quantity of this alkali found in the product 
which I examined, arose from the known property of lime 
dissolving in pyroxilic acid. 
Another fact also tends to confirm my statement, that by 
saturating with chalk the residue removed from the retort 
and previously diffused in a sufficient quantity of water, I 
was able to extract from it a quantity of lactate of lime 
nearly equal to that which I employed. 
5* 
