POPULAR MISCELLANY, 



135 



a very complex nitrogenized compound, 

 which thus becomes transformed into an 

 insoluble albuminoid substance. In acute 

 poisoning there is no time for the arseni- 

 a-ted lecithine to be subjected to physiologi- 

 cal reactions and be eliminated, and the 

 animal dies under the local influence of the 

 poison without sensible variation of the nor- 

 mal phosphorus of the nervous matter. In 

 slow and chronic poisoning the replacement 

 takes place slowly; arseniated lecithine is 

 formed, and acts as ordinary lecithine, pass- 

 ing gradually into the insoluble albuminoid 

 state, while the phosphorus is steadily di- 

 minished, giving place to the arsenic. 



The Otto of Roses. The otto of roses 

 consists of an odoriferous liquid containing 

 oxygen combined with a solid hydrocarbon 

 called siearopiene^ which is destitute of per- 

 fume. The quality of the oil is determined 

 by the relative proportion of these sub- 

 stances, and that is dependent chiefly on 

 conditions of climate. The Bulgarian oils 

 contain about eighteen per cent., the oils 

 distilled in France and England as much as 

 thirty-five and even sixty-eight per cent, of 

 stearoptene. The difference in the propor- 

 tions is also shown in the higher tempera- 

 ture required to melt the oil which contains 

 a greater relative amount of stearoptene. 

 The Bulgarian oil melts at from 61" to 64, 

 French and English oils from 70 to 89^. 

 Even in Bulgarian oil a notable difference 

 is observed between that produced on the 

 hills and that from the lowlands. The most 

 important source of otto of roses is a small 

 district in Bulgaria or East Roumelia, stretch- 

 iag along the southern slopes of the central 

 Balkans, and approximately included be- 

 tween the twenty-fifth and twenty-sixth de- 

 grees of east longitude and the forty-second 

 and forty-third degrees of north latitude. 

 A suitable soil for the growth of roses is 

 furnished, with need for but little manuring, 

 by the decomposition of the syenite, which 

 is the characteristic rock of the region. 

 The average summer temperatures of the 

 district are 86 at noon, and 68 in the 

 evening. The rose-bushes do best on sandy 

 slopes having a good exposure to the sun. 

 The flowers of bushes which grow on in- 

 clined ground are much richer in oil, and 

 that of a stronger quality, than those raised 



on level land, and are therefore more es- 

 teemed and dearer. The flowers when fully 

 expanded are gathered before sunrise, often 

 with the calyx attached, and should be 

 treated the same day. In Bulgaria, roses 

 which have matured slowly in moderately 

 cold weather furnish the richest yields ; in 

 England, the contrary appears to be the 

 case. The flowers are distilled for an hour 

 and a half, with double their volume of 

 water, in a copper still from which a pipe 

 passes through a tub that is kept constantly 

 cool by inflowing spring-water. After the 

 distillate has been allowed to stand for a 

 day or two at a temperature exceeding 59^^ 

 the oil is skimmed off from it. The residual 

 liquors are used instead of spring-water for 

 subsequent distillations. The rose-water 

 which comes over last is extremely fragrant, 

 and is much prized for medical and culinary 

 purposes. Pure otto, carefully distilled, is 

 at first colorless, but speedily becomes yel- 

 lowish ; has a specific gravity of about 0*87, 

 boils at 444, and solidifies at from 51 "8 to 

 60-8, or at higher temperatures in the case 

 of inferior oils, and is soluble in absolute 

 alcohol. It is tested by its odor, which can 

 be judged only after long experience; its 

 congealing-point (a good oil should congeal 

 in five minutes at a temperature of 54"5), 

 and by the crystallization of the stearoptene 

 with light, feathery, shining plates filling the 

 whole liquid. It is sometimes adulterated 

 with spermaceti, which may be detected by 

 its readiness to solidify, and by other essen- 

 tial oils, the effect of which is sometimes to 

 lower the congealing-point. Rose-water and 

 otto of roses are also produced in India ; in 

 Persia, where the trade, formerly important* 

 has nearly disappeared ; in the Mediterra- 

 nean countries of Africa, and in France. 

 The otto of the Provence rose has a char- 

 acteristic perfume, which arises, it is be- 

 lieved, from the pollen of orange-flowers, 

 which is brought by bees to the petals of 

 the roses. 



Effects of Petting on Animals. Mr. A. 



D. Bartlett, of the Zoological Gardens, Lon- 

 don, has remarked that while adult carniv- 

 orous animals lions, tigers, leopards, etc. 

 can seldom be tamed and then only at the 

 cost of danger, the young become very tame 

 and fond of those who feed and caress 



