AmAiri^9ioarm'}     Cardamom  and  Oil  of  Cardamom.  173 
The  latter  firm  print  on*  their  stationery  as  one  of  their  impor- 
tant specialities  "  Cardamom  Oil,"  indicating  that  it  assumes  a  fairly 
important  place  in  their  commercial  transactions. 
I  have  recently  examined  three  samples  of  this  oil  of  different 
makes,  the  results  being  as  follows : 
Specific               Optical  Solubility  in  Solubility  in 
Gravity.  Rotation.  75%  Alcohol.  70%  Alcohol. 
1  0.9322  +  32-6°  2  volumes  3  volumes 
2  0.9324  -\-  29.40  2  volumes  3  volumes 
3  0-9323  +  29.40  2  volumes  3  volumes 
The  data  before  us  warrant  the  following  conclusions :  that 
ample  supplies  of  pure  oil  are  available ;  that  it  keeps  as  well  as  most 
essential  oils  and  much  better  than  many  ;  that  the  commercial  oil 
is  largely  distilled  from  cultivated  Ceylon  cardamom  as  well  as  from 
the  Malabar ;  that  the  specific  gravity  varies  from  0.929  to  0.947 ; 
that  the  oil  is  markedly  dextrogyrous  with  quite  a  range  running 
from '  + 22.20  to  +  400 ;  that  oils  of  lower  specific  gravity  and 
optical  rotation  or  deficient  in  flavor  are  obtained  from  wild  or  other 
cardamoms  and  must  be  rejected;  that  the  pure  oil  is  soluble  when 
fresh  in  three  volumes  of  70  per  cent,  alcohol,  and  after  aging 
somewhat  is  still  soluble  in  4  volumes. 
The  following  is  submitted  as  a  proposed  N.F.  standard  if  the 
oil  be  admitted  in  the  revision  and  follows  the  style  of  the  U.S. P. 
VIII. : 
Oleum  Cardamom i — Oil  of  Cardamom. 
A  volatile  oil  distilled  from  the  seeds  of  Eletteria  Cardamomum 
White  et  Maton  (Fam.  Zingiberacese) .  It  should  be  kept  in  well- 
stoppered  amber-colored  bottles,  in  a  cool  place,  protected  from  light. 
A  colorless  or  very  pale  yellow  liquid  having  the  characteristic 
aromatic,  penetrating,  and  somewhat  camphoraceous  odor  of  car- 
damom and  a  warm,  persistently  pungent,  and  strongly  aromatic 
taste. 
Specific  gravity  0.924  to  0.947. 
Very  soluble  in  alcohol  and  dissolves  readily  and  clearly  in 
4  volumes  of  70  per  cent,  alcohol. 
It  is  dextrogyrate,  the  angle  of  rotation  varying  from  +  22°  t° 
-f  400  in  a  100  mm.  tube,  at  a  temperature  of  25 0  C. 
Cardamom  and  its  volatile  oil  again  illustrate  the  changes  that 
