132 BACON. 



We have distilled 100 kilos of the roots of C'urciuua zedoaria Rose., 

 which is very abundant in many localities near Manila. Sixty-five grams 

 of oil (0.665 per cent) were obtained and also 40 grams of a volatile, 

 beautifully crystalline solid. 



The oil has a dark, greenish-brown color and a pleasant, slightly 



camphoraceous odor. It is probably optically inactive; certainly its 



optical activity does not exceed -j-l°..5. The oil is so dark as to preclude 



30° 30° 



more accurate measurement. Specific gravity ,-t^=0. 933 ; N^yr^^LiBSO. 



It is readily soluble in two or more volumes of 80 per cent alcohol. 

 On distilling the lowest boiling portions of the oil in vacuo, it loses its 

 camphoraceous odor (probably due to cineol) and the scent then becomes 

 quite flower-like. Although oil of zedoary is one of the oldest known 

 essential oils, very little has been discovered concerning its composition. 

 A study of the chemical composition of this oil will be taken up later. 

 It is to be noted that the specific gravity of the oil I obtained does 

 not agree with the figures recorded in the literature for oil of zedoary. 



