THE CITRINE ODOURS. 89 
chemistry of Citronella are described by Dodge *; mention being 
also made of Professor Fliickiger’s discovery of the peculiar pro- 
perty possessed by this oil (and that of A. cétratus) of solidifying, 
with evolution of heat, when shaken for ten minutes with a 
saturated solution of sodium bisulphite. 
The investigations of Kremers + show that citronelle-oil consists 
of an aldehyde, C7H,,O, a terpene, C,)H,,, an isomer of borneol 
named citronellol, and acetic and valerianic acids. These two 
acids are said to be formed through the oxidation of the alde- 
hyde, and to exist originally in combination with citronellol as a 
compound ether. The composition of the aldehyde, as ascertained 
by Kremers, does not agree with the results arrived at by Dodge f, 
who assigned to it the formula C,,H,,O, and found its boiling-point 
to be between 217° and 222°. This aldehyde has also been found 
in oil of Hucalyptus maculata, var. citriodora. 
It is well known to the trade that Citronella is largely adul- 
terated with kerosene, immense quantities of which are imported 
into Ceylon in great excess of the requirements for illuminating 
purposes. 
The test recommended ‘to discover this is that one part of the 
oil should give a clear solution with ten parts of 80-per-cent. 
alcohol when shaken vigorously. In the presence of 10 per cent. 
of petroleum or kerosene the mixture becomes milky. An addition 
of a fixed oil is still more perceptible, as little as 1 or 2 per 
cent. being recognizable, but the mixture becomes turbid rather 
than milky. The sp. gr. of the oil should not be below 0895 at 
15° C. (Schimmel). 
Lemon-Grass. 
Oil of Lemon-grass.—This is derived from the Andropogon 
citratus of DeCandolle ; syn. A. Schenanthus, Wallich§. The 
vernacular names Gandha-bené (Bengal) and Malutrinukung- 
bhustrinung (Sanskrit) are by Roxburgh given to a plant he 
describes as A. Schenanthus, Linn.; this description may be refer- 
able to A. citratus, De C., but it seems to agree equally well with 
* ¢ American Journal of Chemistry,’ xi. p. 456. 
+ Proc. Am. Pharm. Assoc. 1887, and Am. Chem. Journ. xiv. p. 204 (Mar. 
1892). 
¢ Am. Chem. Journ. xi. p. 458. 
§ Plant. As. Rar. iii. tab. 280. 
