OLEUM ANDROPOGONIS. 727 



been decom|30sed by sodium, and the oil again rectified, a second analysis 

 was made which proved it isomeric with oil of turpentine. 



A genuine grass oil from Khandesh, derived as we suppose from the 

 same species, which was examined by one of us (F.), yielded nothing 

 crystalline when saturated with dry hydrochloric acid ; but when the 

 liquid was afterwards treated with fuming nitric acid, crystals of the 

 compound, C^^ff^ HCl, sublimed into the upper part of the vessel. We 

 have observed that the oils both of lemon grass and citronella yield solid 

 compounds, if shaken with a saturated solution of bisulphite of sodium. 



Citronella oil was found by Gladstone (1872) to be. composed chiefly 

 of an oxidized oil, which he called Gitronellol, and which he separated 

 by fractional distillation into two portions, the one boiling at 202-205° C, 

 the other 199-202° C. The composition of each portion is indicated by 

 the formula e"ff *0. 



Wright's researches (1874) tend rather to show the prevailing part of 

 citronella oil to consist of the liquid C^'H'^O, boiling near 210°, which he 

 calls Gitroiidlol. It unites with bromine, and the resulting compound, 

 upon heating, breaks up according to the following equation : — 

 QiogisQgj^ = Off . 2 HBr . (J'W\ 



Cymene. 



Commerce — The growing trade in grass oil is exemplified in a 

 striking manner by the following statistics. The export of Citronellu 

 Oil from Ceylon in 1864 was 622,000 ounces, valued at £8230. In the 

 Ceylon Blue Book, the exports for 1872 are returned thus : — 



To the United Kingdom .... 1,163,074 ounces 1 



British India , . . . T 5,713 „ > 1,595,257 ounces.^ 



United States of North America . . 426,470 „ ) 



In 1875 the oil shipped from Ceylon to the United Kingdom was 

 v'alued at 42,871 rupees, that sent to other foreign countries at 45,871 

 rupees, to British possessions 660 rupees (one nipee equal to about 2s). 



Oil ofLeriion Gnxiss, which is a more costly article and less extensively 

 produced, was exported from Ceylon during the same year to the extent 

 of 13,515 ounces, more than half of which quantity was shipped to the 

 United States. There are no analogous statistics for these two oils from 

 Singapore, where, as stated at p. 726, they^re now largely manufactured. 



By the official Report on the Extei^wl Commerce of Bombay, published 

 in 1867, we find that during the y§ar ending 31 March, 1867, Crrass Oil 

 [i.e. Ginger-grass or Rusa Oil] was exported thence to the amount of 

 41,643 lb. This oil is shipped to England and to the ports of the 

 Red Sea. 



Uses — Grass oils are much esteemed in India as an external appli- 

 cation in rheumatism. Rusa oil is said to stimulate the growth of the 

 hair. Internally, grass oil is sometimes administered as a carminative in 

 colic ; and an infusion of the leaves of lemon grass is prescribed as a dia- 

 phoretic and stimulant. In Europe and America the oils are used 

 almost exclusively by the soapmakers and perfumers.^ 



^ In addition to which, there were "842 species of Andropogon is used in India for 



dozens and 33 packages " of the same oil thatching. It is eaten voraciously by cattle, 



shipped to the United States. One ounce whose flesh and milk become flavoured with 



equal to 31*1 grammes. its strong aroma. 



2 The foliage of the large odoriferous 



