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XXXII. On East Indian Grass Oil, 

 By John Stenhouse, P/lD."^- 

 AM indebted to the kindness of Professor Christison for 

 a quantity of an East Indian grass oil, which forms the 

 subject of the present notice. This oil is said to be the pro- 

 duce of Andropogon Ivaracusa, and is I believe what is com- 

 monly called the oil of Naraur, though Dr. Royle affirms that 

 the grass oil of Namur is derived from the Andropogon {Cala- 

 mus aromaticus), the true spikenard of the ancients. 



The oil which I have subjected to examination has a very 

 fragrant aromatic odour, slightly resembling that of otto of 

 roses, but not nearly so rich. Its taste is sharp and agreeable, 

 approaching that of oil of lemons. It has a deep yellow co- 

 lour, and evidently contains a good deal of resinous matter, 

 which induces me to suspect that it is pretty old. It is lighter 

 than water, and quite neutral to test paper. 



When mixed with water and subjected to distillation, it left 

 nearly one-half of its bulk of a fluid resin. The oil which 

 passed into the receiver was colourless, but its smell was not 

 quite so agreeable as before distillation, and the same was the 

 case with the resin in the retort. The oil was rendered an- 

 hydrous by treating it with chloride of calcium and again 

 rectifying it. 



It began to boil at 297° F., but the boiling gradually rose 

 to 320° F., when it became stationary for some time, and then 

 continued rising. When subjected to analysis 



0'3^65 gr. gave 1"061 of carbonic acid and 0*3575 water. 



Carbon 83-76 



Hydrogen 11*46 



Oxygen 4*78 



100*00 

 As the analysis evidently showed that the oil consisted of 

 a carburetted hydrogen mixed with a little of an oxygenated 

 oil, a quantity of the rectified oil was treated with small 

 pieces of sodium. These immediately caused an evolution of 

 hydrogen, but this ceased in a short time, and the bits of 

 sodium which had not dissolved remained quite bright, while 

 a small quantity of a reddish coloured resin was also formed. 

 The oil was then poured off the sodium and rectified. When 

 subjected to analysis 



0*2675 gram, gave 0*855 of carbonic acid and 0*277 water. 



At. Calculated numbers. 



Carbon . 88*37 5 Carbon = 88'46 



Hydrogen 11*50 4 Hydrogen = 11*54 



99*87 100*00 



* Communicated by the Chemical Society: having been read April I, 

 1844. 



