60 ODOKOGEAPHIA. 



gr. of each portion was then taken, and is given in the following 

 table, at 85" F., the temperature of the laboratory. 



1 1-025 



2 1-030 



3 1-036 



4 1-040 



5 1-045 



6 1-045 



7 1-047 



8 1-048 



9 1-048 



10 1-048 



11 1-048 



12 1-042 



13 1-035 



The first eight portions were nearly colourless. No. 8 had a light 

 straw colour, 9 and 10 light brown, and 13 almost black. 



Nos. 8, 9, 10 and 11 being all of the same sp. gr. were mixed 

 together and taken to represent the 2:'?<^rc heavy oil of lay. It had 

 the following properties : — Colourless when first distilled, quickly 

 acquiring a brown colour by exposure to the air ; the odour recalls 

 that of clove ; the taste, hot, pungent, aromatic, very like that of 

 oil of cloves; it reddens the skin and produces a hot tingling 

 sensation in the part to which it may be applied ; the effect does 

 not, however, last along. The oil is soluble in the 95 per cent, 

 alcohol of the market in all proportions, also in ether and 

 petroleum benzene. It is soluble in the officinal solutions of 

 caustic potash, forming after a short time a mass of crystals. 



The sp. gr. at 77*^ F. and at 60° F. was taken with much care, 

 using a 500-gram flask in making the determinations : — 

 Sp. gr. of heavy oil of bay at 77^ F. ... 1-052 



60° F. ... 1-055 

 Ten pounds of light oil of bay, as obtained from the leaves, having 

 a sp. gr. of 0-945 were then slowly re-distilled. The first portion 

 of the distillate, consisting of a clear, limpid colourless liquid, 

 had a sp. gr. of 0-829 at 77° F. and of 0-8356 at 60° F. It was 

 found to be perfectly soluble in strong alcohol, ether, benzene and 

 chloroform. When the residue in the still was examined, about 4 

 ounces of a dark coloured, very thick body, was obtained from the 



