148 
SELECTED ARTICLES. 
tion on the part of our Government and settlers in Ceylon, 
Gamboge of the most esteemed quality may be added to the 
other European exports of that prolific and highly favoured 
island." 
The Garcinia cambogia, Xanthochymus pictorius, and 
Garcinia pictoria afford resins which resemble gamboge, but 
which possess none of its active properties, according to the 
experiments of Dr. Christison. 
British Jinnals of Medicine. 
ART. XXIV.-.0BSERVAT10NS ON SULPHUROUS ETHER, 
AND SULPHATE OF ETHERINE (THE TRUE SULPHU- 
ROUS ETHER.) By R. Hare, M. D., Professor of Chemistry in 
the University of Pennsylvania.* 
It is known that when two parts, by weight, of sulphuric 
acid are distilled with one of alcohol, a yellow sulphurous 
liquid is obtained. Berzelius alleges, that when this liquid is 
exposed in an exhausted receiver over sulphuric acid and hy- 
drate of potash, an oleaginous liquid remains, which he desig- 
nates as ^' oil of wine containing sulphuric acid, or heavy 
oil of wine.'' 
This oil is, by the same author, described as being heavier 
than water, as having a penetrating aromatic odour, and a cool 
pungent taste, resembling that of peppermint. It is, in fact, 
the liquid which Hennel first analyzed as oil of wine, without, 
at the same time, mentioning the process by which it was 
procured. No doubt the difference between it and that pro- 
cured by Boullay and Dumas, was, in some degree, the cause 
of the discordance between his observation and theirs. Ac- 
♦ From the American Philosophical Transactions. 
