REACTION OF THE ESSENTIAL OILS. 
159 
ulcers, the employment of the sulphurous sulphated oils may 
be advantageous. 
A respectable physician was of opinion that the sulphurous 
sulphate of turpentine had a beneficial influence in the case of 
an obstinate tetter. 
Possibly the presence of sulphurous acid may increase the 
power of the oil of turpentine as an anthelmintic. 
Pieces of corned meet hung up, after being bathed with an 
alcoholic solution of the sulphurous sulphated oil of turpen- 
tine, or with solutions of the sulphated oils of cloves or 
cinnamon, remained free frpm putridity at the end of several 
months. That imbued with cinnamon had a slight odour and 
taste of the oil. 
I am led, therefore, to the impression that the antiseptic 
power is not peculiar to kreosote, but belongs to other acrid 
oils and principles, and especially to the oils of cinnamon and 
cloves. 
The union of sulphuric acid with these oils appears to ren- 
der them more soluble in water : whether any important 
change is effected in their medical qualities by the pre- 
sence of the acid, may be a question worthy of attention. 
I have stated my reasons for considering the ammoniacal 
liquid, resulting from the ablution of the ethereal sulphurous 
sulphate of etherine with ammonia, as partially composed of 
hyposulphuric acid. By adding to this ammoniacal liquid a 
quantity of sulphuric acid, sufficient to produce a strong odour 
of sulphurous acid, and then a portion of any of the essential 
oils; a combination ensued, as already described, between 
the oils and the sulphurous acid liberated by the sulphuric acid, 
so as to render them yellow and suffocating. The habitudes 
of cinnamon oil from cassia under these circumstances were 
peculiar. A quantity of it was dissolved, communicating to 
the liquid a reddish hue. The solution being evaporated, a 
gummy translucent reddish mass was obtained, which, by so- 
lution in alcohol, precipitated a quantity of salt, and being 
boiled nearly to dryness, re-dissolved in water, and again 
evaporated, was resolved into a mass having the friability, con- 
