(/' 



\ 



„ , t, m . » k »t! i f» r m * 



24 





however, predominates. Its taste is not so disagreeable as the 

 precedinji', and more cooling and mint-like. It has a specific 

 .gravity of 0.017 ; it boils at yUO'^, the mercury subsequently 

 rising' to 350'^. Ileducod to a temperature of 0"^ F., it remained 

 perfectly clear : it innites with difficulty iu open vessels. In a 

 lamp it gives a dense white flame, superior to kerosene, without 

 smoke or smell. It is a good solvent ibr a variety of resinous 

 bodies. 



The following results were obtained by M. Cloez in his chemi- 

 cal investigations iu J'J. (jluhhhis: 



From leaves which hatl been 1 ••ought from Australia, and were 

 completely dry, he obtained aboi t 1.5 per cent, essential oil [in 

 Table VII. 0.72 is given as the percentage obtained from fresh 

 leaves, assumitig the latter to contain 53 per cent, water (vide 

 note to Table ) : calculation will give 1.53 as the percentage to 

 be obtained fnim the dry material; coinciding with the results 

 obtained by M. Cloez.] 



M. Cloez says: This essence is a very fluid li((uid, .'^lightly 

 coloured, and having an aromatic odor, which reminds one of 

 camphor. Heated in a distilling apparatus, it commences to 

 boil at about 338*^ F. The thermometer rises rapidly to 347" F., 

 where it remains till about half the product has passed in distil- 

 lation. Another portion of the essential oil passes between 

 370''\4 and 374*-' F. By further application of heat, a small 

 (|uantity of volatile licjuid is obtained at a temperature slightly 

 over 3i)2« F. 



The liquid distilled between 338'' and 352'='.4 F. is not a pure 

 product. On rectifying with potash and chloride of calcium, a 

 very fluid colorless liquid is obtained, which boils at 347*^ F., 

 and which M. Cloez calls Eucalyptol. It is much lighter than 

 water; its density is 0.!HI5 at 4G'^^.4 F., and it turns the plane 

 of polarisation to the right. It is soluble in alcohol, but only 

 very slightly so in water. Its composition, according to M. 

 Cloez, is C24 JI-2B O^- When treated with nitric acid, one of 

 the products of the reaction is a crystallisable acid, probably 

 analagous to camphoric acid. Another product, obtained by 

 distillation of Eucalyptol with phosphoric anhydride in a retort, 

 is Eucalyptene, a hydrocarbon with the formula C-i\ II\%. A 

 further product, obtained by the action of phosphoric anhydride, 

 is called by M. Cloiiz Eucalyptolene. 



