386 Miscellanies. 
3. Oil extracted from the Spirit of Wine of Potatoes by M. J. 
Dumas—Ann. de. Chim. t. 56. 314.—Previous to rectification, spir- 
it of wine, whether it be obtained from malt or potatoes, possesses a 
peculiar taste or smell which is removed by distillation frequently re- 
peated. It has been long known that these properties depend on a 
peculiar oil, first detected by Schulec. 
Fourcroy and Vauquelin proved that the oil was not a product of 
fermentation, but that it existed im grain and could be separated by 
treating it with water and taking up the oil from the liquid by alco- 
hol. M. Payen has shown that the seat of this oil is in the tegumen- 
tary part of the fecula of potatoes. ‘Those who have examined the 
oil proceeding from the spirit of barley, describe it as capable of 
crystalization, volatilizing with difficulty, undergoing alterations by 
distillation and staining paper permanently. Pelletan found on the 
contrary the oil from the spirit of potatoes a true essential oil. Du- 
mas examined a specimen from the manufactory of Dubrunfaut: it 
possessed a reddish yellow color and a very distinguishable smell. 
When one breathes the air charged with it, nausea and headache are 
produced. Carbonate of potash diminishes the odor considerably 
and when distilled with it renders it analogous to that of nitric ether. 
In order to free it entirely from alcohol, it is necessary to distil cau- 
tiously and obtain a residue of pure oil boiling at 266°, F’. or 269°, 
the alcohol passing over first. Dumas suggests that although bearing 
some affinity to alcohol and ether it may belong to the family of cam- 
phors. The density of its vapor is 3.147 or calculating from its com- 
position 3.072. It consists of, 
Carbon, - - - - - - 68.6 
Hydrogen, - - - - - - 13.6 
Oxygen, - - - 17.8 
Records of Gen. Science, No. 1, 1835. 
4. Phosphate of Lime in the teeth and Silica in the skin of the 
Infusoria.—Rose cf Berlin has ascertained that the hard parts 
which in certain tribes of infusory animals are called teeth, are com- 
posed of phosphate of lime, and that the hard case or cover with 
which many of these minute creatures are protected is composed of 
silica.—Jameson’s Ed. New Phil. Jour. April, 1835. 
