Dr. Stenhouse on Oil of Assafcetida, Sfc, 277 



1. 2. 3. 



Carbon 62-54. 62-60 61-83 



Hydrogen . . . 9-45 9*05 9'41 



Sulphur .... 20-12 19-99 

 Oxygen .... 7-89 8-36 



10000 100-00 



(1.) Analysis of 3rd quantity of oil, boiling at 370° F., 

 0-3036 gave 0-6415 carbonic acid, and 0-2493 water. 



(2.) Analysis of 3rd quantity of oil, 0-2947 gave 0-6185 

 carbonic acid, and 0-2413 water. 



0-344 gave 0-421 sulphate of baryta = 16-88 per cent, sul- 

 phur. 



0-382 gave 0-436 sulphate of baryta = 15*74 per cent, sul- 

 phur. 



1. 2. 



Carbon 58-42 58-03 



Hydrogen ... 9-12 9-09 



Sulphur .... 16-88 15-74 



Oxygen .... 15-58 17-14 



100-00 100-00 



It is evident from these results, that oil of assafcetida is a 

 mixture of various oils, one or more of which consist pi'obably 

 onl}' of carbon, hydrogen and sulphur, with other oils con- 

 taining more or less oxygen. The less oxygenated portion is 

 the most volatile. It is therefore unnecessary to attempt to 

 deduce any formula from these analyses. Though oil of as- 

 safcetida was twice treated with fused potash in the same man- 

 ner as oil of hyssop, the greater portion of the sulphur was 

 removed, but I could not succeed in getting rid of the whole. 

 The greater portion of the oil was converted into a blackish 

 resin. This resinous matter is soluble in alkali, from which 

 it is precipitated by acids. It is not in the least degree cry- 

 stalline. The action of reagents on oil of assafcetida was as 

 follows: — salts of silver, lead and protoxide of mercury gave 

 black precipitates. When brought in contact with peroxide 

 of mercury, heat was evolved, and a part of the oxide was 

 converted into a greenish yellow mass, which was insoluble in 

 water. A very small portion of the oil was acted on however. 

 Corrosive sublimate immediately produced a copious flocculent 

 white precipitate. It was insoluble in water, alcohol and 

 a;tiier. It was soluble in nitric acid, and when boiled with 

 solution of potash, the mercury was precipitated in the state 

 of protoxide. Oil of assafcetida does not combine with am- 

 monia. It is very little acted on either by aqueous or alco- 

 holic solutions of potash. Nitric acid acts on this oil with 



