XII.—On a New Source for obtaining Capric Acid, and Remarks on some of its Salts

Extract

The following examination of capric acid and some of its salts, was made in the laboratory of Dr T. Anderson, to whom I am much indebted for his kindness in procuring for me the materials to work upon, and also for advice during the progress of this investigation. Capric acid has been found by Chevreul and Lerch in the butter of the cow and goat; by Redtenbacher, amongst the volatile oily acids he obtained by acting on oleic acid with nitric acid; by Gerhardt and Cahours, by the action of nitric acid on the oil of rue; and by Görgey in cocoa-nut oil;—from all these sources it has been obtained only in small quantities, and always along with other acids of the series to which capric acid belongs.