143 



obtained by evaporation. — It is dark grass-gi'een, thicker than 

 olive oil ; of a mild, afterwards rancid taste ; smells like the root ; 

 remains liquid at temperatures much below 0°. 



[Oil of Atherosperma moscliatnm (Australian sassafra;s). Ob- 

 tained by aqueous distillation from the bark. — Thin, unctuous, pale 

 yellow when fresh, becomes yellowish-brown by age. Resembles 

 in odovir sassafras oil with an admixture of caraways. Taste 

 aromatic, bitter, prickling on the tongue. Sp. gr. 1 •04, Boils at 

 230° to 245°. Report of Exhibition of 1862]. 



Oil of Atropa Belladoima^ (deadly night-shade). Obtained by 

 pressing the seeds. — -A little thicker than linseed oil, inodorous, of 

 mild taste, of 0'925 density, dries slowly, becomes very thick and 

 turbid at — 16°, congeals completely at — 27°. 



Oil of Balsaill of Copaiva = C2o Hic. Obtained by distillation 

 with water. Is colourless, thin ; smells similar to the balsam ; 

 has an acrid, lasting, bitter taste, of 0'88 to 0"91 density; boils at 

 245°. 



Oil of Balsam of Peru=C32 H^ O4 (Cu H7 O + Cis H7 



O3), Cinname'in or Cinnamate of Benzyl. Boil the balsam with 

 a. Solution of soda and wash with water. The remnant separates 

 into a resin and a yellow-brown liquid. Heat the latter to 170°, 

 distil with steam of the same temperature, and desiccate the distil- 

 late with chloride of calcium. — A colourless oil of great light-re- 

 fracting power, liquid at • — 12°; has a faint, pleasant smell and 

 an acrid, aromatic taste; of 1*098 density; of neutral reaction; 

 boils at 340° to 350° and distils under partial decomposition ; dis- 

 solves scarcely in water, readily in alcohol and in ether ; is decom- 

 posed by potash-ley into benzyl alcohol and cinnamate of potash. 



Oil of Bassia. See Bassia Fat and Galam-Butter. 



Oil of Betula alba (birch). Obtained by distilling the leaves 

 with water. — Colourless, thin; of a pleasant balsamic odour, similar 

 to young birch-leaves or roses; tastes at first mild, sweetish, after- 

 wards peculiarly balsamic, acrid, and hot ; becomes a little turbid 

 and thickish at 0°, but not hard or crystalline even at — 10°; is 

 lighter than water; dissolves in 8 parts alcohol of 0'850. [Not 

 to be confounded with the oil of birch-bark, obtained by diy dis- 

 tillation, and utilised in the preparation of the fragrant Russian 

 leather.— F. v. M.] 



Oil of Brassica alba and B. iii«Ta (mustard). Fixed oil, 



obtained by pressing the seeds. Is yellow; of 0'917-920 density; 

 of mild smell and taste; thickens at — 12°; is not drying. Con- 

 tains the glycerides of erucic and sinapoleic acids. 



Oil of Brassica ni«Ta=Cs H5 NS2. Obtained by distillation 

 with water, but does not pre-exist. Oils of similar, but as yet 



