262 
MISCELLANY. 
Upon the composition of Beeswax, by M. Hess. — (Repert de Ch.) 
When we treat virgin wax of Russia by cold ether with frequent repetitions, 
there remains pure white wax, which is hard and brittle, and fuses 
between 64° and 65° C; I have found this to be composed of— 
Carbon, 0.8084 20 at. 
Hydrogen, 0.1322 40 " 
Oxygen, 0.0594 1 " 
On washing the ethereal solution until it is deprived of color, what 
remains is still pure wax. These facts prove that wax is not composed, 
as has been believed, of two different substances, the one very soluble in 
alcohol, cerin, and the other but slightly soluble, myricin. The results 
of my analysis approximate closely to those obtained by Saussure, and 
to those given by M. Boussingault, for the wax of the Ceroxylon andicola. 
But M. Oppermann has obtained for the wax of Japan, and for that of 
Brazil, a different composition, namely : 
Wax of Japan. Wax of Brazil. 
Carbon, 0.7097 0.7289 
Hydrogen, 0.1207 0.1203 
Oxygen, 0.1096 0.1509 
For my part, on treating the fecula of rye by nitric acid, I obtained, 
besides oxalic acid, a fatty substance like wax; soluble in alcohol, and 
still more so in ether; capable of forming, with the alkalies, soaps soluble 
in water, and which gave, upon analysis : — 
Carbon, 0.7337 
Hydrogen, 0.1214 
Oxygen, 0.1649 
We may remark that, in these different substances, the hydrogen and 
the carbon are always in the same proportion, of 1 to 2. I conclude from 
this that they are different oxides of the same carburet of hydrogen, CH 2 . 
Ann. des Mines. 
A new method of working. up Caoutchouc. — {Ann. der Phar.) — The use 
of ether, the oil of turpentine, the volatile oil obtained from caoutchouc, 
the balsam of copaiba, and the oil obtained in the manufacture of gas for 
illumination, has the inconvenience of being very expensive, and of pro- 
ducing a varnish, which dries with difficulty. For some time ammonia 
has been used with advantage. The gum elastic, cut into small pieces, 
is to be put into a vessel, covered with caustic ammonia, and left in this 
state for some months. The ammonia becomes brown, and the gum takes 
on a brilliant and silky appearance, like that of fresh nerve. The caout- 
chouc, thus swelled up, is still elastic, and has altogether, when drawn 
out, the appearance of fine silken fibres — but breaks more easily than the 
crude caoutchouc. 
By treating the caoutchouc, swelled by ammonia, with the oil of tur. 
