210 On the Chemical cmd Natural History of Lujndme. 



In fact, the composition obtained by analysis of the crude 

 essence, may be represented by the formula C56H46O6 ; 

 that of the essence distilled between -f 150 and 160 degrees 

 (302° and 320° Fahr.) by the formula C22H18O2. 



In submitting these essences to the action of fused po- 

 tassa, there were obtained products in which the quantity 

 of carbon and of hydrogen increased each time that they 

 were submitted to a renewed action of potassa, while the 

 proportion of oxygen decreased. Finally, after many suc- 

 cessive treatments, we finished by having a perfectly pure 

 hydro-carbon. 



This hydro-carbon is a colourless liquid, which boils at 

 + 160 degrees (320° Fahr.) It does not acidify by contact 

 with air ; it is as difficult to be altered by contact, for a 

 score of days, with pure oxygen. Its composition, deduced 

 from analysis, is represented by the formula CjoHg ; it is 

 consequently the same as that of the oil of turpentine and 

 of horneene, which M. Gerhardt has found in the essential 

 oil of Valerian. But this body, although possessing the 

 composition of oil of turpentine and of borneene, is not the 

 same, but isomerous with these last ; for I have not trans- 

 formed them into solid camphor of Borneo, neither by the 

 action of nitric acid nor by that of potassa. Kept for some 

 time on a solution of potassa, it acquired the odour of thyme, 

 sufficiently to show an approach to thymol. 



We see that the action of fused potassa upon the essential 

 oil of hop, consists in setting free a hydro-carbon liquid 

 CioHs, and in retaining an oxygenated body, which it trans- 

 forms into valerianic acid and carbonic acid ; results abso- 

 lutely similar to what M. Gerhardt has obtained with the 

 essence of valerian. 



It is not easy to separate the oxygenised principle of this 

 essential oil, because it is found to be retained in the thickish 

 resinous matter, which does not permit the separation with- 

 out great difficulty. 



The essential oil of lupuline is clearly, then, to be consi- 

 dered as a complex oil, constituted by a hydro-carbon CjoHg, 

 and a body containing oxygen of the formula C12H10O2 

 analogous to valerol of the essential oil of valerian. The 

 formula of the crude oil C56H46O6, may be represented by 



