ON THE VOLATILE OIL OP BETULA LENTA, ETC. 247 
by spontaneous evaporation, yields a syrupy, almost colorless 
product, which does not crystallize after standing several 
weeks. In this state it is evidently associated with some 
substance that prevents its crystallization. The syrupy 
liquid was agitated with several times its bulk of ether, but 
the former separated from the mixture unchanged. The 
difficulty of combining gaultherin with other bodies opposes 
a barrier to its examination. 
As thus obtained gaultherin has little, if any, odor, and a 
slightly bitter taste. When heated carefully on a plate of 
glass until all the moisture has evaporated, it remains as a 
transparent varnish-like layer easily pulverizable. When 
held in a flame it takes fire and burns tardily, with a large 
carbonaceous residue, and may be heated to 300° Fahr., 
without change; at 350° it froths and becomes darker color- 
ed, and at 400° it becomes almost black, and emits empyreu- 
matic vapors. At the two first mentioned temperatures the 
composition and properties of gaultherin do not appear to 
be affected, but at the latter they are almost entirely destroy- 
ed. Subjected to heat in a close tube, gaultherin is com- 
pletely decomposed; a yellow oil condenses on the opposite 
end of the tube, which possesses the properties of oil of 
Gaultheria, but is contaminated with pyrogenous matter; 
whilst a carbonaceous residue remains. 
When gaultherin is mixed with concentrated sulphuric 
acid it is dissolved, the acid acquires an intensely red color, 
and the odor of the oil of Betula lenta is developed. 
If gaultherin be distilled with diluted sulphuric acid, it 
is decomposed, and the distilled liquid is strongly impreg- 
nated with the oil, globules of which float upon its surface. 
Distillation with dilute hydrochloric acid also generates 
the volatile oil. 
When gaultherin is dissolved in dilute nitric acid, (sp. 
gr. 1.04,) and the mixture distilled, the liquid in the reci- 
pient contains no volatile oil; but floating on its surface and 
attached to the sides of the receiver, are numerous acicular 
