234 
ON SOPHISTICATED OIL OF WORMWOOD. 
The distillate in this case was, however, somewhat colored by a 
portion of the oil, which had been mechanically carried over dur- 
ing the operation. Its specific gravity at 66° was 874. It was 
inflammable, burning with a white flame slightly tinged with green. 
The saccharine flavor mentioned above was very perceptible, sug- 
gesting at once the presence of chloroform. 
The residue of undistilled oil possessed a thick, syrupy consist- 
ence, as might have been expected after parting with so large a 
proportion of its substance. Its color was somewhat darkened by 
the action of the heat, but its flavor was very slightly, if at all af- 
fected. Specific gravity at 66°, 949. 
The distillate obtained by this operation, amounting to nearly 
two fluid ounces, was re-distilled carefully from a water bath. It 
commenced coming over at 167° F., the largest portion came over 
between 173° and 176°, and the remainder at a temperature not 
exceeding 178°, leaving in the retort a trifling residue, consisting 
of the oil mechanically carried over during the previous operation. 
The first half was received in a separate vessel. Its specific gravity 
at 70° was 889, it possessed in a high degree the saccharine flavor 
above mentioned, though still somewhat concealed by the flavor 
of wormwood. 
The last portion was almost entirely free from any flavor of 
chloroform, and consisted of alcohol, somewhat modified in taste 
by a slight flavor of wormwood. Its specific gravity at 70° 
was 832. 
It will be observed that the opposite gravity of the last portion 
which came over at the higher temperature, was lower than that 
of the first, owing to the fact that the chloroform passed over 
first, as was to have been expected, from its lower boiling point, 
and from distillation having been carried on slowly for this pur- 
pose. 
The above experiments were considered sufficient evidence to 
prove that this sample, purporting to be Oil of Wormwood, had 
been adulterated to the amount of nearly 40 per cent, with volatile 
matter, consisting of chloroform and alcohol, or with a mixture of 
the so-called chloric ether and alcohol. It is quite immaterial in 
which of the above forms these substances were introduced, as the 
result is of course the same in both cases. It was not considered 
necessary, in order to complete the proof, to separate the chloro- 
