148 ACTION OF SALTS ON VOLATILE OILS. 



some volatile oil of lomons recently rectified, and perfectly 

 colourless. I shook this mixture from time to time. In ten 

 days the oil had subsided to the bottom in globules of a 

 light amber colour, which, when separated by filtration, dis- 

 solved in spirit of wine. This solution being mixed with 

 distilled water, the oil reappieared, with the property of 

 swimming on the surface of water, being divested of the 

 mercurial salt, wliich it had dissolved. The solution of 

 corrosive sublimate separated from this oil had a somewhat 

 acid smell, not unlike that of the residuum left after rectify- 

 ing oil of lemons, and formed a yellow precipitate with 

 lime-water as usual. 

 oil of chervil, 2d. Volatile oil of chervil, that had been made twO 

 years, treated with a solution of .corrosive sublimate, was 

 likewise precipitated in the form of globules, without its co- 

 lour being lightened. I separated the oil in the same man- 

 ner by the filter, and dissolved it in spirit of wine. Water 

 mixed with this solution did not free the oil from the corro- 

 sive sublimate it had dissolved, for it still remained heavier 

 than the fluid, and kept at the bottom of the vessel. 

 oil of hyssopj 3d. Volatile oil of hyssop, that had been long made, 

 treated with the same solution of corrosive sublimate, sunk 

 to the bottom of the liquid at the end of four days, with- 

 out any change of colour, 

 oil of pepper- 4th. Oil of peppermint, recently distilled, with the same 

 ™int, reagent thickened, became greener, was precipitated, and 



adhered to the sides Of the phial. The solution of this oil 

 in spirit of wine was of an emerald green ; and the addition 

 of water caused the oil to make its reappearance with its na- 

 tural green colour, 

 and oil of 5th. Oil of lavender, agitated in a similar solution of 



lavender. corrosive sublimate, was precipitated at the expiration of a 



few days, and became of a high amber colour approaching 

 to red. On the sides of the phial a whitish mercurial crust 

 was observed. 



This oil, when separated from the solution, had lost its 

 fluidity; its smell was considerably changed, being acid and 

 empyreumatic ; its colour was reddish ; and it spotted glass 

 in the manner of empyreumatic oils. Beaten up with dis- 

 tilled waLer, it first svibsided to the bottom, and after some 



time 



