zl6 4 Mr. W. Brande’s Account of a 
perfectly soluble in ether, and sparingly soluble in boiling 
alcohol. 
As it is commonly stated that the fixed oils are insoluble in 
ether and in alcohol, I was led to attribute the solution of the 
oil, in these instances, to its being combined with the wax ; 
but subsequent experiments, of which I shall state the general 
results, have shewn me that these opinions are erroneous. 
Four fluid ounces of sulphuric ether, spec. grav. ,7563, 
dissolve a fluid ounce and a quarter of the expressed oil of 
almonds ; of olive oil, the same quantity of the ether dissolves 
a fluid ounce and a half ; of linseed oil, two fluid ounces and 
a half ; and castor oil is soluble in any proportion in sulphuric 
ether of the above specific gravity. 
The expressed oils of almonds and of olives, are very spar- 
ingly soluble in alcohol, spec. grav. ,820. 
Linseed oil is more soluble than the two former. Four fluid 
ounces of alcohol, spec. grav. ,820, dissolve nearly one fluid 
drachm. 
Castor oil is perfectly soluble in every proportion in alcohol, 
spec. grav. ,820. In alcohol of a higher specific gravity, as 
,840, it is very sparingly soluble.* 
As some of the difficultly soluble resins are more easily 
dissolved in alcohol, to which a small proportion of camphor 
has been added, I endeavoured to ascertain whether the fixed 
oils were rendered more soluble by the same means, but found 
that this was not the case, excepting with regard to castor oil, 
which although very sparingly dissolved by alcohol of a spec. 
* The solubility of castor oil in alcohol was mentioned to me some months ago 
by Dr. Wollaston, who also informed me, that it had on that account been em- 
ployed to adulterate certain essential oils of high value, especially the oil of cloves. 
