222 Mr. Turner on Crystals from Oil of Cinnamon. [Sept. 



containing the results of his principal analyses of arragonite, 

 which I had intended sending to some scientific journal on my 

 return to England ; but as it has been unluckily mislaid, I must 

 rely on the candour of your readers to receive these facts on my 

 word, with such allowances as the circumstance of my stating 

 them upon recollection, and not from notes, naturally call for, 

 although I am pretty confident as to the accuracy of the more 

 material parts of the information, 



I have the honour to be, &c. &c. 



Charles Daubeny. 



Article XI. 



On a Crystalline Sublimate from Oil of Cinnamon. 

 By Mr. J. A. Turner. 



(To the Editor of the Annals of Philosophy.) 



SIR, Norwich, July 9, 1821. 



Some time since I observed on the sides of a bottle, about a 

 quarter full of oil of cinnamon, a curious crystalline appearance ; 

 and as I have not been able to find any account of a similar 

 circumstance, I was induced to think it might, perhaps, be 

 worthy a place in your Annals. 



The crystals, which were needleform, were arranged in a most 

 beautiful arborescent manner. Light appeared to influence their 

 deposition, as the sides next the wall against which the bottle 

 stood had only faint delineations. 



The quantity of crystals I was able to obtain was very small 

 (not more than a grain). They possessed the properties of cam- 

 phor ; they had the cetaceous feel of camphor between the 

 teeth ; the taste I could not distinguish en account of the oil 

 which adhered to them, and from which (in consequence of the 

 smallness of the quantity) I was unable to free them. Alcohol 

 dissolved them ; the solution evaporated spontaneously, left 

 behind a white powder, which was redissolved in alcohol ; and, 

 by the addition of water, a precipitate was formed. 



The cause of its volatilizing and crystallizing on the sides of 

 the bottle, beginning at the very surface of the oil, still remains 

 .to be accounted for. Should you be able to explain it, you will 

 much oblige Yours respectfully, 



John A. Turner. 



