Am  M0ay?5arm"}      Congealing  Point  of  Oil  of  Anise.  257 
whilst  "  illicium  "  oil  is  about  35°  F.,  i.  e.,  their  abnormal  congealing 
points,  which,  to  my  mind,  has  the  disadvantage  of  being  somewhat 
unscientific ;  or, 
(2)  We  must  find  some  easily  applied  distinguishing  test.  The  one 
I  would  suggest  is  that  proposed  by  Eykmann,1  which  I  have  found 
most  efficient,  viz.,  a  saturated  solution  of  hydrochloric  acid  gas  in 
absolute  alcohol,  which  reagent  affords  with  "  pimpinella "  oil  a 
beautiful  manganese  pink,  whilst  with  "  illicium  "  oil,  only  a  pale 
brown  color  is  shown,  as  will  be  seen  by  reference  to  Table  A.  The 
test  is  more  strikingly  apparent  with  the  "  natural "  oils,  than  with 
oils  that  have  been  subjected  to  rectification,  but  even  in  the  latter 
case,  it  is  still  sufficiently  delicate  to  admit  of  no  confusion. 
In  "  Pharmacographia"  1st  edit.,  page  278,  the  authors  write: 
"  We  are  unable  to  give  characters  by  which  these  oils  can  be  dis- 
criminated, although  they  are  distinguished  by  dealers." 
With  the  authentic  specimens,  which  I  have  placed  on  the  table,  I 
am  convinced  there  are  very  few  in  this  room,  who  possess  anything 
like  a  delicate  olfactory  organ,  who  cannot  with  ease  distinguish 
between  the  one  and  the  other ;  indeed,  there  may  be  dealers  in  this 
room,  who  would  blindfold,  distinguish  between  aniseeds  and  star- 
anise  oils. 
Table  B. 
(Indicating  Examination  of  Trade  Samples.) 
Sample. 
Abnormal 
solidifying 
point. 
True 
solidifying 
point. 
Color  reaction 
with  alcoholic 
HC1. 
Fahrenheit. 
Fahrenheit. 
No.  1  
31 
54 
Almost  colorless. 
34 
53 
«  t< 
No.  3  
33 
53 
t<  (( 
No.  4  
38 
54 
u  (e 
No.  5  
39 
57 
U  (( 
No.  6  
36 
54 
«  li 
No.  7  
31 
54 
Yellowish-brown. 
No.  8  .•  
35 
57 
Almost  colorless. 
No.  9  
39 
58 
Yellowish-brown. 
No.  10  
39 
56 
Almost  colorless. 
Average  of  10  \ 
samples  / 
35-5 
55 
The  "  pimpinella  "  oil,  you  will  note,  has  a  peculiar  fatty  smell, 
1  Pharm.  Journ.,  vol.  xi.,  p.  1046. 
