532 
Analysis  of  Beeswax. 
r  Am.  .lour.  Phartu. 
I         Oct.,  1892. 
and  roots  to  the  extent  of  31  per  cent,  according  to  Renard 
("tormentillo-tannic  acid  ")  and  of  17  per  cent,  according  to  others. 
Willow. — The  various  species  of  salix  (Salicaceae)  contain  tannin 
in  the  bark  and  leaves  ;  in  the  former  it  varies  greatly,  1-4  per 
cent,  and  16  per  cent,  having  been  found  in  different  instances. 
Willow  bark  has  long  been  used  by  tanners  in  Russia. 
Mountain  Ash  {Pyms  aucuparia,  Rosaceae)  contains  5-7  per 
cent,  of  tannin  in  its  bark,  3-5  per  cent,  in  its  wood,  and  some 
also  in  its  leaves  and  fruit. 
Valonia,  Quercus  s£g-ilops(C\ip\A\ter&).  —These  well-known  acorn- 
cups  contain  from  25  to  45  per  cent,  of  tannin.  The  main  varieties 
are  :  Chamada,  33-4  per  cent.,  Chamadina,  35-4  per  cent,  and 
upwards,  Rabdista,  30  per  cent,  and  Chondra,  27  per  cent.  Pow- 
dered valonia  is  poorer  in  tannin  than  the  cups,  because  before 
grinding  the  bark  and  wood  chips  are  sot  completely  separated. 
ANALYSIS  OF  BEESWAX.1 
By  C.  Mangold. 
Owing  to  the  great  fluctuation  of  the  acidity,  saponification  and 
iodine  numbers  of  genuine  yellow  beeswax,  adulteration  with  less 
than  6  per  cent,  of  paraffin  or  ceresin  is  almost  beyond  detection.  A 
process  has  been  worked  out  by  A.  and  P.  Buisine,  which  the  author 
thought  was  well  worth  trying.  It  is  based  on  the  decomposition 
of  wax  soap  by  hot  potash-lime,  which  does  not  act  on  the  paraffins, 
but  decomposes  the  fatty  matter  with  elimination  of  hydrogen, 
which  serves  as  a  measure  of  their  amount.  The  paraffins  may  be 
extracted  from  the  residue. 
The  author's  investigations  practically  confirm  those  of  Buisine, 
but  he  now  recommends  the  following  process:  2  to  10  grams  of 
the  wax  is  saponified  by  melting  it  with  powdered  potash-lime,  the 
reaction  being  aided  by  stirring  with  a  glass  rod.  After  complete 
cooling,  the  soap  is  powdered,  and  intimately  mixed  with  three 
times  its  weight  of  potash-lime,  and  the  powder  transferred  to  a 
thick-walled,  pear-shaped  bulb-turje,  which  is  heated  for  three  hours 
at  2500  in  a  mercury  bath  contained  in  an  iron  vessel.  This  is  pro- 
vided with  a  lid,  which  screws  on  air-tight,  and  is  pierced  with  four 
1Chem.  Zeit.,  15,  799;  Jour.  Chem.  Soc,  1892  p.  1034. 
