NEW PHARMACOPOEIAS. 49 
Oil of Spearmint (Olewm Menthae viridis). -Colourless, pale yellow, or greenish 
yellow, becoming darker on keeping; dis.50 0.925 to 0.940"); # — 30 to — 50°; soluble 
in 3 parts of 90 p.c. alcohol; forms a clear solution with one part”) of a mixture of equal 
volumes of 90 and of 70 p.c. alcohol, the solution becoming turbid on further dilution. 
1) The lower limit of value is too high, it should be 0.920. 
2) To effect a solution, 1 to 14/2 parts are required at 20°. 
Terebene (Terebenum). Mixture of dipentene with other hydrocarbons, obtained 
by shaking turpentine oil with successive quantities of sulphuric acid until optically 
inactive and then distilling in a current of steam. 
Colourless; dis.50 0.862 to 0.8606; «)-+1 to —1°; soluble in 5 parts of 90 p.c. 
alcohol; it distils between 156 to 180°, leaving only a slight viscous residue; not more 
than 15 p.c. distils below 165°. 
Thymol (Thymol). M. p. 50 to 51°; completely volatilized on a water-bath; almost 
insoluble in water, readily soluble in 90 p.c. alcohol, in ether and in solution of sodium 
hydroxide. A solution of thymol in half its volume of glacial acetic acid, warmed 
with an equal volume of sulphuric acid, assumes a reddish-violet colour. 
Rectified Oil of Turpentine (Oleum Terebinthinae rectificatum). Colourless; 
dis.so 0.860 to 0.870; np250 1.465 to 1.480; distils almost entirely between 156 and 180° *) 
leaving no appreciable residue. 
1) The bulk of rectified turpentine oil must distil up to 165°. 
Oil of Wintergreen (Oleum Gaultheriae). Distilled from the leaves of Gaultheria 
procumbens.or from the bark of Betula lenta. Colourless or nearly so; dis.s0 1.180 
to 1.187*); #2) 0 to —1° np 1.537 to 1.539; soluble in 6 parts of 70 p.c. alcohol Bs at 
25°; contains not less than 99 p.c. of ere salicylate ®), 
1) The specific gravity of gaultheria oil ranges up to 1.193. 
2) At 20° 6 to 8 volumes of 70p.c. alcohol are required. 
3) With genuine gaultheria oil,.ester percentages as low as 96p.c. have been met with. As regards 
duration of the saponification, the same applies as stated when discussing artificial ester. 
Oil of Wintergreen, artificial see Methyl salicylate. 
Finnish Pharmacopoeia. 
(Pharmacopoea Fennica V.) © 
In its indications for essential oils, the Finnish Pharmacopoeia confines itself mostly 
to colour, odour, specific gravity and solubility. As these are without exception in 
accordance with recognized facts, all we have to do is to reproduce the requirements 
laid down for the various oils. We may add that the solubility test requires a Spiritus 
of 90 to 91 p.c., and a Spiritus dilutus of 69.8 to 70.6 p.c. by volume. 
Oil of Anise (Aetheroleum anisi). Colourless or pale yellow; congeals at about 
17° to a white crystalline mass*); dopo 0.98 to 0.99; soluble in 3 parts of Spiritus. 
*) The oil does not always congeal of its own accord. In case of need a little solid oil, or anethol, 
should be added to the chilled oil. With age, anise oil loses its crystallizing capacity under the influence of 
light and air, until finally it does not congeal any more. 
Camphor (Camphora). M. p. 175 to 179°; sparingly soluble in water, readily so 
in Spiritus, ether, chloroform, fixed and essential oils; when heated even moderately 
it sublimes without leaving any residue. 
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