540 
ON  TRUE  AND  FALSE  CREOSOTE. 
duct  was  distilled,  and  that  passing  over  between  397°  and  406° 
was  intercepted.  This  was  now  rectified,  and  allowed  then  to  stand 
in  a  closed  vessel  for  a  day  over  fused  chloride  of  calcium,  and, 
lastly,  a  third  time  rectified.  Here  it  was  observed  that  the  ther 
mometer  remained  standing  for  a  time  at  397°,  but  it  always  rose 
during  the  distillation,  if  even  slowly.  The  product  purified  in  this 
way  was  subject  to  elementary  analysis,  with  the  following  per 
centage  results : — 
1  2  3         4         5         6         7  8 
Carbon,      .    .    75,32  75,72  75,54  74,76  75,82  75.02  74,78  74.68 
Hydrogen,    .    .    7,84     7,94      7,85     7.95     7,98     7,95     7,98  7,84 
Oxygen,     .    .     16,84  16,34  16,61  17,29  16,30  17,03  17,24  17,48 
100.00  100.00  100,00  100,00  100,00  100,00  100,00  100,00 
The  properties  of  the  creosote  purified  in  the  above  way,  by 
fractional  distillation,  w7ere  the  following  : — Colorless,  oily,  not 
or  only  a  little  acid  ;  after  a  long  time  becoming  dark,  strongly  re  - 
fracting  light,  of  a  peculiar  penetrating  smoky  odor,  and  biting, 
burning  taste,  of  1,040  specific  gravity  at  52°  Fahr.,  not  crystal- 
lizable,  and  also  remaining  fluid  at  very  low  temperatures,  in 
water  little  soluble,  in  spirit  and  ether  and  sulphuret  of  carbon 
soluble  in  all  proportions.  Only  partly  dissolved  by  ordinary 
acetic  acid.  Dissolves  sulphur,  and  coagulates  albumen.  Kills 
animals,  in  doses  of  5  to  10  drops,  in  a  few  minutes'  time,  with 
convulsions.    Preserves  meat  and  animal  substances  in  general. 
From  these  properties  and  others,  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  the 
body  examined  by  me  is  very  different  from  phenylic  acid,  and  that 
it  is  the  same  body,  namely,  true  creosote,  which  has  been  described 
by  Reichenbach  and  Ettling. 
Another  question  is,  whether  this  body  is  a  completely  pure 
chemical  compound;  whether  it  is  to  be  regarded  as  a  chemical  indi- 
viduum.  That  in  creosote  such  a  chemical  individuum  exists  there 
can  be  no  doubt,  only  it  appears  to  be  mixed  therein  with  a  small 
quantity  of  a  body,  differing  in  its  carbon  contents,  but  equal  in  its 
hydrogen  contents.  The  peculiarities  already  pointed  out  respect- 
ing the  boiling  point  of  the  pure  product,  renders  this  manifest 
above  all  things. 
In  conclusion,  I  will  offer  a  practical  remark.  When  it  is  de- 
sirable in  commerce  to  distinguish  whether  a  substance  sold  for 
