Among the many discoveries of the last quarter of a century, is that of a method of extracting this useful article by compression from coal-gas. It is a brilliant, colorless liquid, and smells strongly of coal-gas. It boils at 176 deg., and is very inflammable. It is extensively used in the arts, having the property of dissolving India rubber, gutta percha, wax, camphor, and fat. From it is also produced aniline, the basis of many very beautiful dyes. It is also extensively used in perfumery, under the name of essence of mirbane. Formerly the material which is the basis of all these valuable products, was not only useless, but pernicious, and gas manufactories had much difficulty in getting rid of it.