CAMPHORIFEROUS ESSENTIAL OILS, ETC. 
19 
an acid taste, owing to the presence of nitric acid, from which, 
however, it was purified by agitation with an alkaline solution, 
and then presented the following characters, viz. : color white, 
pulverulent, the taste and odor of camphor, very volatile, 
and, on re-sublimation, presented more decided marks of 
identity with the latter substance. It is very soluble in alco- 
hol and ether, and is deposited in crystals on evaporation. In 
thisexperimentwe may infer thatthe oxidation of the camphene 
of the oil was effected by the decomposition of a portion of 
nitric acid. 
Experiment 5. — Another portion of the oil was put into a 
glass vessel, surrounded by a frigorific mixture, and dry hydro- 
chloric acid gas transmitted through it until saturated. Its 
color was changed to a dark purple, it fumed on exposure to 
the air, and had a density of 1.04. It was allowed to stand 
some hours and was then exposed to a temperature of 14° 
below zero of Farenheit, without losing its fluidity, from 
which circumstance we may infer the incapability of oil of 
camphor to yield artificial camphor by the above process. 
Oil of Cajuput. From the same source as the oil of cam- 
phor, before mentioned, a specimen of cajuput oil was obtained, 
purporting to be authentically genuine, and which presented 
the following characters. 
Itwas a limpid, pale green fluid, having a fragrant camphorous 
odor, a pungent taste, and a density of .8977. This oil re- 
tained its fluidity perfectly at a temperature of 30° below zero 
of Farenheit. 
Experiment 6. — A portion of the oil was boiled with pure 
nitric acid, as in experiment fourth, which resulted in its con- 
version into resin at the expense of the acid. 
Experiment 7. — Another portion of the oil was placed in a 
glass vessel, surrounded by a freezing mixture, and dry hydro- 
chloric acid gas transmitted through it until saturated. Its 
color was changed to dark purple, and its specific gravity in- 
creased to 1.0170. On standing a short time it became solid, 
when by compressing the mass between the folds of bibulous 
paper, a whitish scaly matter was obtained. 
