342     constitution  of  the  wax  of  myrica  cerifera. 
by  repeated  boiling  with  moderately  dilute  hydrochloric  acid, 
and  the  fatty  acids  thus  separated  were  thoroughly  washed  by 
hot  water.  The  fusing  points  of  these  products  were  as  follows, 
respectively  : 
1st  fraction,  60-5°  C.  ;  2d,  61-°;  3d,  61-Q  ;  7th,  55-°;  9th, 
50°.  The  10th  fraction  which  gave  no  precipitate  with  acetate  of 
lead  remained  fluid  at  20-°  C. 
The  fact  that  by  long  boiling  the  mixed  fattj^  acids  with  water, 
a  distillate  was  obtained  which  had  the  same  fusing  point  as  the 
original  mixture,  together  with  the  narrow  range  of  fusing  points 
among  the  fractions  first  examined,  made  it  appear  unnecessary 
to  study  the  others. 
The  products  obtained  from  each  of  the  above  mentioned  lead 
precipitates  were  severally  subjected  to  repeated  crystallization 
from  alcohol,  until  the  fusing  point  of  the  crystals  stood  unaltered 
by  further  treatment.  From  each  fraction  an  acid  was  thus  pro- 
cured which  fused  at  62°  C,  and  agreed  in  all  respects  with  pal- 
mitic acid.  The  first  three  fractions  consisted  almost  entirely  of 
this  substance,  and  it  was  present  in  considerable  quantity  even 
in  the  ninth  fraction. 
The  filtrates  from  the  crystallization  of  the  7th  and  9th  frac- 
tions wrere  then  mixed  and  subjected  to  recrystallization.  A  crop 
of  crystals  thus  obtained  likewise  fused  at  62°  C.  The  new  fil- 
trates were  then  mingled  and  crystallized  again  with  the  same 
results. 
The  concentrated  mother  liquors  from  which  nearly  all  the 
palmitic  acid  had  thus  been  separated,  were  now  evaporated 
nearly  to  dryness,  and  the  mass  saponified  to  destroy  the  ethers 
formed  by  prolonged  contact  with  alcohol.  The  soap  was  de- 
composed by  acids,  the  precipitate  dissolved  in  alcohol,  the  fluid 
evaporated  until  a  slight  crop  of  crystals  formed  on  cooling  ;  the 
fluid  poured  off  from  these  was  again  evaporated  until  a  deposit 
ensued  on  cooling,  and  this  process  was  repeated  until  the  crys- 
tals thus  formed  exhibited  a  constant  fusing  point,  viz.  43°  C. 
It  thus  appears  that  lanric  acid  is  an  ingredientof  this  wax.  The 
10th  fraction  which  was  fluid  at  ordirtary  temperature  was  found 
by  similar  treatment  to  consist  almost  entirely  of  lauric  ether 
formed  by  prolonged  contact  with  alcohol. 
About  one  pound  of  the  crude  fatty  acids  was  repeatedly  agi- 
