Examination of Essential Oils. 



23 



make it probable that this is a mixture of a terpene with a large 

 amount of some benzene derivative. 



Diaoeam 22. 

 Myristicol. 



When a mixture of two substances exhibits absorption bands which 

 are due to only one of them, the following characters are generally 

 noticeable: — 1st. There is not unfrequently a haziness about the 

 transmitted rays ; 2nd. The absorption bands are not well denned ; 

 3rd. A comparatively limited amount of dilution suffices to obliterate 

 the chief features of the absorption spectrum. All these points may- 

 be to some extent observed in the spectra of this myristicol, but the 

 bands are yet so strong that they evidently belong to the predominant 

 compound. 



On referring to the refractive equivalent of myristicol (Gladstone, 

 Chemical Society's Journal, vol. xxiii, p. 149), we find that it corre- 

 sponds well with numbers characteristic of compounds of the aromatic 

 series. Hence, the conclusion is obvious, that the greater part of the 

 liquid consists of some benzene derivative. 



Oil of Bergamot (Dr. Gladstone.) — This oil was separated into two 

 fractions :— 1st, boiling between J 75° and 180° ; 2nd, between 180° and 

 190°. 



The first portion was diluted to 400, 800, and 1,000 times its own 

 volume, and photographed. An absorption band was noticed, which 

 soon became removed by dilution, and therefore was set down to an 

 impurity. (See Diagram 23.) 



