ON THE TURPENTINES. 
133 
stance takes place ; some of the parts remain white, soft, and 
preserve their odor like citron, while others become red, and 
assume a peach-blossom color, or that of the lees of wine, like 
assafcetida. The latter portions at the same time contract a 
stronger odor, which, without being disagreeable, somewhat 
resembles that of castor. The whole, melted together in wa- 
ter, as is practised in countries where the resin is prepared, 
affords an opaque pitch of a deep fawn color. 
The odor is entirely peculiar, pretty strong and balsamic ; 
its taste is sweet, perfumed, not bitter. Apart from the im- 
purities which this resin may contain, it is not completely so- 
luble in rectified alcohol, and although the quantity of insolu- 
ble resin is little considerable, it still serves to distinguish it 
from factitious pitch, which is completely soluble. The 
alcoholic solution of the native pitch has a pretty deep red- 
dish color, and it&4aste is bitter, although the undissolved re- 
sin appears insipid. 
The factitious pitch, or that of the maritime pine, is of a 
pale yellow and its color becomes paler as it is beaten with 
water ; it easily becomes dry and cracked upon its surface, is 
less adherent and tenacious than burgundy pitch, has a very 
marked bitter taste, and possesses the strong and disagreeable 
odor of Bordeaux turpentine, or its essence. It is entirely so- 
luble in alcohol. 
Resin of the Larch Pine. 
Several years have elapsed since our associate, M. Beral, sent 
me a specimen of the resin of this pine, used in Russsia for 
the purpose of fumigating apartments. This resin was in ir- 
regular tears, fragile, reddish upon the surface, but opaque and 
whitish internally ; of a strong and balsamic odor, somewhat 
similar to castor; of a very bitter taste; it was contained in a 
box made of the bark of the fir. A Russian Princess, residing 
in Paris, had desired, unsuccessfully, to procure from us this 
resin, to the use of which she was accustomed ; and not being 
able to obtain it, was obliged to send to Russia for it. 
This substance, however, had several times previously been 
