WEST IXDIAX BAY. 61 



sides and bottom of the still. It is carried over to some extent 

 during the last part of the distillation. 



A sample of oil distilled from leaves imported direct from St. 

 Thomas was examined by Dr. Mittmann, in Breslau. Engenol 

 was found to be the principal constituent : the methyl ether of 

 engenol was also present in small quantity, as well as pinene and 

 probably dipentene and diterpene. The sp. gr. at 15° C. was 

 0-970. The oil dissolved clear only in ether, petroleum ether, 

 carbon disulphide and chloroform, while with alcohol and glacial 

 acetic acid it gave a strong turbidity,* therefore, in preparing " Bay 

 Eum " from Bay oil, the solution may prove turbid and require to 

 be filtered through, or treated with magnesia. 



In the Edition of the U. S. Pharmacopoeia just published 

 (Seventh decennial Eevision) the tests for pure Bay oil have been 

 modified in accordance with the result of the most recent investio-a- 



o 



tions: — The sp. gr., which formerly stood at 1-040 has been 

 reduced to 0-975 — 0-990, the higher figure having been found 

 to facilitate adulteration with oil of cloves or pimento ; the absence 

 of these adulterants is furthermore ascertained by the following- 

 test : — 



" If to 3 drops of the oil, contained in a small test tube, 5 drops 

 of concentrated sulphuric acid be added, and, after the tube has been 

 corked the mixture be allowed to stand for half an hour, a 

 resinous mass will be obtained. On adding to this mass 4 c. c. of 

 diluted alcohol, vigorously shaking the mixture and gradually 

 heating to the boiling-point, the liquid should remain nearly 

 colourless, and should not acquire a red or purplish-red colour ; 

 (distinction from oil of pimenta and oil of cloves.)" 



It is quite unusual in a work of this sort to enter into any 

 details of retail business, such as trade formuhie of compounds, yet 

 the following 1^ for " Bay Pium " is so strongly recommended by 

 a leading firm of ess. oil distillers that some readers may advantage 

 by taking note of it. 



West Indian Bay oil . . . 2 drachms. 



Pimento oil 1 drachm. 



Clove oil 10 drops. 



Alcohol (95 per cent.)... J gallon. 



Water i gallon. 



Mix and allow to stand for several days, then filter. 



* Schiminel & Co.'s Report, October, 1889. 



