Glycerin

or Glycerine, a thick colorle , “inodorous, neutral syrup, which has a very sweet taste; it mixes with water in all proportions, is soluble in alcohol and in chloroform, bul insoluble in ether. Glycerin was discovered in 1778 by Scheele, who_obtained it in the Pe of lead plaster by saponifying lard with oxides of lead. Glycerin occurs in most natural animal and vegetable fats in combination with fatty acids, from which it can be obtained by saponifying with alkalies. It is also formed during the alcoholic fermentation of sugar.