THE  AMERICAN 
JOURNAL  OF  PHARMACY. 
APRIL,  1888. 
A^^ALYSIS  OF  THE  VOLATILE  OIL  OF  HEDEOMA 
PULEGIOIDES,  (PERSOON.) 
^  By  Frederick  Wm.  Franz,  Ph.G. 
[From  an  Inaugui'al  Essay.] 
But  very  little  information,  regarding  the  chemical  composition  of 
this  oil,  was  published,  until  the  recent  contribution  to  the  Americaa 
Pharmaceutical  Association,  by  Ed.  Kremers ;  and  nearly  all  of  the 
following  chemical  results  were  obtained  before  the  appearance  of  his 
paper. 
Description. — A  yellowish  liquid,  slightly  turbid,  of  a  pungent^ 
mint-like  odor  and  taste,  soluble  in  all  proportions  of  alcohol,  and 
having  a  faint  acid  reaction,  which  might  easily  be  overlooked.  Spe- 
cific gravity  of  the  dried  oil  at  15°C.,  0-931;  boiling  from  180°- 
206°C. 
Reactions  of  the  dried  oil, — No  greasy  stain  was  left  on  paper, 
showing  the  absence  of  fixed  oil.  It  gave  no  reactions  with  solution 
of  ferric  chloride,  alcoholic  solution  of  ammonium  sulphide,  nor  with 
saturated  solution  of  sodium  bisulphite,  indicating  the  absence  of 
phenols  or  aldehyde-like  bodies ;  and  nothing  crystallized  out  when 
subjected,  for  three  hours,  to  a  temperature  of  — 17°C. 
Fractional  distillations. — About  900  grams  were  subjected  to  distil- 
lation. The  first  portion  was  found  to  have  a  strong  acid  reaction, 
this  fraction  was  therefore  not  taken  until  all  of  the  acid  had  been 
distilled  over.  This  was  then  shaken  with  water,  and  separated,  until 
all  of  the  acid  had  been  dissolved  out ;  this  acid  solution  was  marked 
X  and  set  aside  for  further  investigation.    The  oil  was  then  thor- 
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