ON PYROACETIC SPIRIT- 
211 
heavy fluid, of a sweet and penetrating odor, it must be well 
washed with water, and dried by chloride of calcium. Its 
composition is C 6 H 4 2 . Exposed to dry ammonia it absorbs 
the gas rapidly, forming a resinous mass, from which crystals 
of mesitic aldehyd of ammonia ma)^ be obtained by solution 
and cautious evaporation. A solution of these crystals pro- 
duces a yellow precipitate with nitrate of silver. 
Mesitic chloral is a compound produced by the action of 
chlorine gas upon mesitic alcohol. It is formed by passing 
this gas through mesitic alcohol. Hydrochloric acid is formed, 
together with a heavy liquid. After the action has ceased, 
the hydrochloric acid is to be driven off by a moderate heat, 
carefully applied, and not raised so high as to decompose the 
chloral, it is then to be dried by chloride of calcium. Mesitic 
chloral is a heavy oily liquid, boils at 260° F.; dropped upon the 
hand it produced redness and vesication, more difficult to heal 
than that from cantharides. Its composition is expressed by 
the formula, C 6 H 4 2 C1 2 , or the elements of mesitic aldehyd 
combined with two equivalents of chlorine. This substance 
had been previously noticed, but not analysed by Matteucci, 
and subsequently it was formed and analysed by Liebig, 
whose results approximate closely to those of Mr. Kane. 
When mesitic chloral is put in contact with a base, it entirely 
disappears, and mesitylene, chlorine, and a new acid, are 
produced. The nature of this acid it is intended to investi- 
gate still farther. The name of pteleic acid is, however, 
given to it, and its probable composition is stated as 
C 6 H 4 4 =C 6 H 3 3 + HO. 
R. B. 
