ELECTRICAL RESISTANCES OF FIXED AND VOLATILE OILS. 18 1 
Adulterated Samples.—Volatile Oils. 
Name of Oil. 
Adulterant. 
Observed 
Deflection. 
Ohmad’s 
Resistance. 
Peppermint, Ang. . 
Lemon .... 
Bergamot . . . 
» • • • • 
Lavender, Ang. 
Turpentine . . 
Spirit of Wine . 
Turpentine . . 
Spirit of Wine. 
Turpentine . . 
» • • 
185 x 8*94 
43 x 8-94 
52 
157x8-94 
92 x 8-94 
104 
969,000* 
422,000 
3',444,000 
11,600 
1',949,000 
15',630,000 
The effects produced by mixing different specimens of the same oil together 
are also perceptible; thus the German oils of peppermint, or foreign samples of 
lavender oil, produce modifications in the electrolysis. 
In testing the fixed oils a much higher battery-power is required ; this arises 
simply from the fact that they all possess much lower conducting powers than 
any of the essential oils. 
For these tests thirty-two cells were used. 
Table of Resistances of Fixed Oils. 
Samples Purchased as Genuine. 
Name of Oil. 
Observed 
Deflection. 
Ohmad’s 
Resistance. 
Olive. 
40x8-94 
554',637,600 
• • • • .. 
68 
3,186',000,000 f 
Sweet Almond. 
40x8-94 
554',637,600 
••••••• 
35 x 8-94 
708',048,000 + 
Castor Oil, Italian. 
91 
2,242',152,000 
„ „ E. I. Elect .... 
206x8-94 
113',287,680 
Poppy . 
326 x8-94 
68'.444,640 
Turpentine. 
340 
590',040,000 
Cotton-seeds §. 
220 
14',000,000 || 
„ 2nd sample . . . 
_ ' — 
130 
23',500,000 ** 
From this table it will be seen that the bleached oils have even a lower con¬ 
ducting power than the unbleached oils; and, in this respect, olive oil possesses 
a greater difference than almond oil. It is not easy to explain this. 
A singular difference exists between the Italian and the East Indian castor 
oils. This difference will enable one to detect a very small percentage of the 
one added to the other. 
Cotton-seed oil and oil of poppy, as well as turpentine, are so rapidly altered 
in their conducting power by electrolysis, that there is not the slightest difficulty 
in recognizing them in samples of oil. 
Olive oil, when free from cotton-seed oil or oil of poppy, has its resistance in¬ 
creased by electrification, but if the smallest quantity of either of them exists 
in a sample of olive oil, it produces a contrary effect by a prolonged contact 
with the battery. 
These results of electrolysis are alone important in determining the condition 
of a sample of olive oil. 
* Product of 1858. t Bleached. 
|| Sensibility of instrument increased. 
X Bleached. § Rising gradually to 300. 
** Rising rapidly beyond range. 
