444      Essential  Oils  of  Bay,  Fimenta  and  Cloves,  {^"^kllu,'^^'''^ 
tion  of  oil  of  bay  with  pimenta  or  cloves  where  the  quantity  of  adul- 
terant was  considerable.  To  three  drops  of  oil  of  bay,  in  a  small  test 
tube,  add  three  drops  of  pure  sulphuric  acid  (1*84).  Tightly  cork 
the  test  tube  and  stand  aside  for  half  an  hour  until  the  reaction  is  com- 
plete and  the  oil  is  resinified.  Add  60  minims  of  50  per  cent,  alcohol 
and  shake  vigorously,  gradually  warm  the  mixture,  agitating  it  con- 
tinuously until  the  alcohol  boils.  With  pure  oil  of  bay,  the  resin  will 
form  an  insoluble  mass,  the  alcohol  remaining  almost  colorless  or 
acquiring  a  pale,  brownish  yellow  color,  not  red  or  purplish  red. 
Oil  of  pimenta,  similarly  treated,  will  yield  a  resinous  mass,  consid- 
erable of  which  dissolves  in  the  dilute  alcohol,  yielding  a  bright  red 
or  red-brown  solution. 
Oil  of  cloves  similarly  treated,  yields  a  resinous  mass,  which  almost 
entirely  dissolves  in  the  dilute  alcohol,  yielding  a  bright  red  solution, 
soon  acquiring  a  purplish-red  fluorescent  color. 
Oil  of  bay,  adulterated  with  ten  per  cent,  of  pimenta,  will  give  a 
distinct  red-brown  solution,  and  five  per  cent,  of  oil  of  cloves  can  be 
easily  detected  by  the  purplish-red  fluorescence. 
Gmelin  gives  the  specific  gravity  of  oil  of  pimenta,  as  ascertained  by 
Jahn,  at  1-03.  Gladstone  (Phar.  Jour.,  1872,  687)  states  that  the 
specific  gravity  at  10°  C.  (50°  F.)  is  1'0374.  The  U.  S.  Dispensatory 
(15th  Edit.,  1031),  states  the  specific  gravity  at  1*021,  but  varies. 
No  authority  is  given  for  this  statement.  The  U.  S.  P.  gives  it  as 
1;040.    Samples  recently  examined  showed  1*0485  and  1*0525. 
The  German  Pharmacopoeia  states  the  specific  gravity  of  oil  of 
cloves  at  1*041  to  1*060.  The  U.  S.  Pharmacopoeia  says  about  1*050. 
Samples  examined  showed  the  following,  1*0494,  1*0426,  1*0450  and 
l*059t).  The  last  sample  was  adulterated  with  the  oil  of  cassia.  A 
sample  of  oil  of  clove  stalks  showed  a  sp.  gr.  of  1*0672.  The  ]N'ational 
Dispensatory  states  the  sp.  gr.  of  this  oil  to  be  1*009.  I  am  inclined 
to  think  this  a  mistake,  as  the  odor  is  very  similar  and  its  behavior 
with  solvents  and  chemical  reactions  are  identical  with  oil  of  cloves. 
Its  composition  is  likely  similar  if  not  identical. 
"  One  drop  of  oil  of  cloves  in  4  grams  of  alcohol  is  colored  blue  on 
the  addition  of  one  drop  of  a  mixture  of  1  part  solution  of  ferric  chlor- 
ide and  20  parts  water.'^  Ph.  G. — Oil  of  bay  similarly  tested  yields  a 
pale  yellowish  green  color.  Oil  of  pimenta,  a  bright  green.  These 
colors  soon  fade  and  are  immediately  destroyed  on  the  addition  of 
hydrochloric  acid. 
