& 
325 PLUMBAGINE AL. 
strong nitric acid, but soon congeals into colourless crystals of 
a nitro-compound. A solid crystalline mass is also obtained 
on agitating the oil with concentrated solution of potassa or 
soda. (Stillé and Maisch.) The Nilgiri oil has a sp. gr. of 
1:087 at 15-5, and has no action on polarized light. 
Chemical composition.—Procter (1842) recognized the pre- 
sence in this oil of salicylicacid. Cahours subsequently (1843) 
proved it to consist to the amount of about 90 per cent. of 
methylsalicylic acid (methyl! salicylate or mono-methylsalicylic 
ether), CH°C7H°O%. 100 grains of the oil contains 81 grains 
of salicylic acid. Pure methyl salicylate is a colourless oil, has 
the specifie gravity of 1:18, boils at 222° C. (Cahours), and 
forms crystalline compounds with the alkalies. The remain- 
ing constituent of oil of wintergreen—of which Pettigrew 
(1884) obtained only 0-3 per cent.—is gaultherilene, a colour- 
less thin hydrocarbon of the formula C'°H'®, boiling at 160°. 
C., and having a strong peculiar odour, described as pepper- 
like by Cahours. Trimble and Schroeter determined the 
hydrocarbon to be a sesquiterpene of the formula C**H?*, and 
obtained crystals similar to benzoic acid from the oil. 
Commerce.—The leaves yield more oil in the fine weather, 
from January to April, than at other times of the year; but 
owing to the sluggishness with which it comes over in the 
still, it could not be sold for much less than Rs. 6 per pound. 
The preparation of carbolic acid from the oil to compete with 
that from coal tar is out of the question at the present time 
bat it aaiaht, with advantage, be used in making salicylic acid 
reducing the price of the natural acid which is Mee in 
London at 2s. 6d. per ounce. 
- PLUMBAGINIA. 
PLUMBAGO ZEYLANICA, Linn. 
Fig.—Rheede Hort. Mal. x., t, 85 eae shag t. 179. 
| Hab.—Throaghoat Ine The Foote 
