COPAL AND COPAL VARNISH. 
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copal, is imported in pieces almost always flat, and of a size scarcely 
exceeding three ounces in weight ; it is very hard, has a rough ap- 
pearance, and is without smell or taste. Its color is yellowish, and 
never colorless like the preceding. Insects are very rarely to be 
found in it. It is brought from the Antilles, Mexico, and North 
America. 
According to Lunery it exudes, in the Antilles, from a large 
tree, falls into the rivulets which run along the sides of the moun- 
tains, and from thence is carried away by the rivers, and thrown 
upon their banks. According to this Chemist, it owes its great 
hardness to its remaining a long time in water. If we carefully 
examine the exterior of this copal, we shall find that the outer 
layer, which is coarse, and not transparent, bears no impression 
either of sand or dirt, and rarely of leaves. Its exterior appear- 
ance gives no indication of subterranean origin. 
Absolute alcohol dissolves it in so small a proportion, that no ad- 
vantage is derivable from a spirituous varnish, although those which 
are thus prepared are very hard and durable. Rectified oil of tur- 
pentine dissolves, after a long digestion, a small quantity of this 
copal, and, when heated for some time, the solution becomes 
colored ; with new oil of rosemary it swells, but is not dissolved. 
It fuses also with much more difficulty than the globular copal, 
giving off much less watery acid, but a good deal of empyreumatic 
oil. Fused with access of air, it becomes entirely black, unless a 
large vessel be employed, in which the empyreumatic oil can be 
readily removed. It is also blackened by repeated fusions. As 
soon as the copal ceases to froth up, the fusion is complete. If it 
has not been sufficiently fused, or if an oil of turpentine, contain- 
ing too much resin, be employed for dissolving the copal, a good 
deal of copal settles down from the solution. Notwithstanding 
most minute preparations, it is difficult to prepare a varnish with 
this copal, free from a brown color. 
The third kind of copal is imported in convex or concave pieces, 
weighing about half a pound each, often containing insects and 
vegetable substances. Its odor is aromatic, its consistence is not 
hard, and, when warm, it readily takes the impression of the nail. 
It is of the color of hard copal, and, in order to distinguish it from 
the latter, I give it the name of insect copal. 
Alcohol, oil of rosemary, and oil of turpentine act upon it in the 
