92 ODOROGRAPHIA. 



contrasting with the brown-orange colour of the interior. Alpinia 

 Gcdanga Swartz yields 0'75 per cent, of essential oil. 



Prof. Dragendorff, in his " Studies upon Essential oils,"* states 

 that oil of Galanga is principally adulterated with oil of pimento 

 and oil of cloves, both of which are more soluble in dilute alcohol. 

 A pure sample of oil of Galanga obtained from Herr Zeise, was 

 found to be miscible with 97 per cent, alcohol in all proportions ; 

 with 0-2 to 2 volumes of 94 per cent, alcohol it was clear, and with 

 more turbid. With 0*5 volume of 91 per cent., it was clear ; with 

 1 volume, turbid, and not quite clear again with 7'o volumes. The 

 strength of the spirit used in the various experiments, is according 

 to Tralle's alcoholometer, which gives the percentage volume for the 

 tem]jerature of 60^ F. 



An adulterated commercial oil was found by the Professor to be 

 clearly miscible with 77 per cent, alcohol in all proportions ; with 

 0"7 volumes of 73 per cent, alcohol, it was clear; but with from 2*5 

 to 12 volumes of the same, it was turbid. It is therefore probable 

 that the ready solubility of a commercial oil of Galanga can be 

 taken as a sure proof of its adulteration. 



Some of the species of Alpinia are remarkable for the exceeding 

 Ijeauty of their flowers, such as A. Malaccensis, A. nutans and A. 

 mv.tica. 



Galangal is used as a remedy for indigestion, &c., as a spice, and 

 in the manufacture of beer, vinegar, pickles, gin and liqueurs. 



The composition of the volatile oil, according to the researches 

 of Yogel, is represented by the formula C^q H^g 0. Its sp. gr. at 

 lo^C. is 0-921. It boils between 170^ and 275^ C. It contains 



considerable quantities of cineol (Schimmel). 



The Alpinia sessilis Konigf is the Kcempferia Galanga Linn.:|: 

 The roots of this plant are agreeably fragrant and aromatic ; the 

 Hindus usq them as a perfume, but they do not appear on the 

 London market. It does not produce the Galanga of the druggists 

 and seems to have no other right to its specific name than its sup- 

 posed identity with that drug by reason of the name given by Van 

 Piheed, " Katsjula Kelengu," in his Hortus Malabaricus, xi. p. 81 t. 



* Pharni. Jonrn. [3] vi., p. 544. 



+ Retzius, Observ. iii. p. 62. 



:;: Sp. PI. Ed. Willd., i. p. 15, and Roxb. Flor. Ind., i. p. 14. 



