60 DR. JOHN STENHOUSE ON THE NITROGENATED PRINCIPLES OF VEGETABLES. 
products collected in the way already so frequently described. Besides much ammonia 
they contained a considerable quantity of a basic oil but slightly soluble in water, of a 
very peculiar and penetrating odour resembling that of the borage plant. It neutral- 
ized acids perfectly, and was evidently quite distinct from any of the bases previously 
met with. A quantity of lycopodium destructively distilled per se also yielded this 
base, but towards the close of the distillation it was mixed with other bases resem- 
bling those previously described. Lycopodium therefore affords us another proof 
that different tribes of vegetables, when destructively distilled, furnish a diversity of 
volatile organic bases. 
Bases from the Common Fern (Pteris aquilina). 
A quantity of the stems and leaves of the fern Pteris aquilina were also de- 
structively distilled. They yielded a very alkaline liquid, containing much ammonia 
and a considerable quantity of oily bases similar in character to those obtained 
from beans, oil-cake, &c. ; but I am at present unable to determine their nature 
individually. 
