CHEMICAL SCIENCE. 227 



of valerianate of oxide of amyle is dissolved in 6 or 8 parts of spirits % 

 of wine, and acid is added in the same manner, as has been before 

 explained in the preparation of other extracts. 



Artificial Oil of Bitter Almonds. When Mitscherlich, in 1834, 

 discovered nitro-benzole, he little thought, after twenty years to find 

 this body in an industrial exhibition. He certainly, at that time 

 pointed out the remarkable resemblance which the odor of nitro-ben- 

 zole had to that of oil of bitter almonds ; but the only sources for 

 obtaining benzole at that time, viz., the oil of compressed gas, and the 

 distillation of benzoic acid, were much too expensive, and put an end 

 to the idea of substituting the use of nitro-benzole for oil of bitter 

 almonds. Mansfield, however, in 1849, showed by careful investiga- 

 tion, that benzole may be procured easily and in large quantities from 

 oil of coal tar, and this discovery has not been lost sight of in the arts. 

 Among the articles of French perfumery in the Great Exhibition, 

 with the title of artificial oil of litter almonds, and the fanciful name 

 of essence of jMirbane. there were several specimens of oils, which 

 consisted of more or less pure nitro-benzole. The apparatus used in 

 the preparation of this substance is that proposed by Mr. Mansfield. 

 It consists of a large glass worm, the upper end of which branches 

 into two tubes, which are provided with funnels. A stream of con- 

 centrated nitric acid flows slowly through one of these funnels, whilst 

 the other is for the benzole, (which for this purpose need not be abso- 

 lutely pure.) At the point at which the tubes of the funnels are 

 united, the two bodies come in contact, the chemical compound formed 

 becomes sufficiently cooled in passing through the worm, and only 

 requires to be washed with water, and finally with some weak solution 

 of carbonate of soda, to be ready for use. Although the nitro-benzole 

 closely resembles oil of bitter almonds, in physical properties, it pos- 

 sesses, however, a somewhat different odor, readily recognized by a 

 practised person. However it answers well for scenting soap, and 

 would be extensively applicable for confectionary and for culinary 

 purposes. For the latter purpose it has the special advantage over oil 

 of bitter almonds, that it contains no prussic acid. 



The application of organic chemistry to perfumery, is still in its 

 infancy ; and we may expect that a careful survey of those ethers and 

 etherial compounds with which we are at present acquainted, and 

 those which are daily being discovered, will lead to further results. 

 The interesting caprylic ethers which M. Blouis has lately discovered 

 are remarkable, for their extremely aromatic odor, (thus the acetate of 

 caprylic oxide possesses an odor as strong as it is agreeable,) and 

 promises, if they can be obtained in larger quantities, to yield mate- 

 rials for perfumery. Hoffman's letter to Liebig. 



The subject of the composition and artificial production of the 

 various extracts of fruit and other similar perfumes and essences, 

 strikingly illustrates the wonderful progress which has been made in 

 organic chemistry within the last few years. A position has been 

 taken by some chemists who have carefully investigated this subject, 

 which cannot at present be controverted, that the extracts or perfumes 

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