348 ODOROGKAPHIA. 



Ferment oils, bodies which are very imperfectly uuJerstood, but 

 which are of great interest, and deserving of more careful study 

 than has yet been given to them. 



Ferment oils are volatile oils produced by the fermentation of 

 various inodorous plants ; they are not originally contained therein 

 or previously existing, and are essentially different from the oils 

 which are extracted from unfermented plants by distillation with 

 water. According to Becker,* they were known to the Alchemists, 

 and by them designated "quintessences." Ferment oils are for 

 the most part more soluble in water than ordinary volatile oils. 

 Berzelius regarded them as peculiar alcohols related to fusel oil 

 and forming compound ethers with salt radicles and acids.f 



Biichner first separated an oil of this nature from the fermented 

 herb of Erythroea centoMrium by distillation. ;|; 



Ferment oil of Choerophyllum sylvestre (Wild Chevril). 

 The flowering plant is left to ferment in water ; the liquid distilled 

 when the fermentation is ended ; the distillate mixed with 

 common salt and shaken up with ether ; the ether removed from 

 the aqueous solution and evaporated off. The oil thus isolated is 

 of a brownish colour, lighter than water, having a strong and 

 peculiar pungent odour and an aromatic taste, not bitter, but 

 rough. It is very volatile, evaporating quickly at 18° C. (therefore 

 its separation from the ethereal solution should be conducted with 

 care, in vacuo, and employing a freezing mixture in the refrigerator, 

 as hereafter explained). It burns with a clear, luminous flame, 

 diffusing a vapour which excites coughing. Chlorine water 

 converts it into yellow flocks, retaining the odour of the oil. It 

 dissolves in iodine. It is decomposed with violence by nitric acid. 

 By sulphuric acid it is coloured brown without losing its odour. 

 It forms an emulsion with aqueous ammonia ; dissolves sparingly 

 in water, easily in alcohol, ether, and oils both fixed and volatile. § 



Ferment oil of Chelidonium majus. Obtained from the roots 

 in the same manner as the ferment oil of Chcerophylluin sylvestre. 

 Has an agreeable odour like the bouquet of wine and a persistent 



* N. Br. Archiv., Iv., p. 161. 



f JahresLericht der Pharm., xxvii., p, 5-il. 



t Repert. Pharm., liii., p. 299. 



§ Bley, N. Br. Archiv., xlv., p. 50. 



