218 
VOLATILE OIL OP GAULTHERIA PROCUMBENS. 
of the above salts, a deep red color is produced. When the 
persulphate is employed, the solution is purple. 
If to a boiling solution of this acid an excess of carbonate 
of lead be added, carbonic acid is liberated, and on filtering 
the hot solution, beautiful four-sided crystals of the lead salt 
are obtained. 
With nitrate of silver the soluble salts of this acid yield a 
white precipitate. 
Oil of Gaaltheria and Chlorine.- — When a current of 
chlorine is passed through oil of gaullheria it is rapidly ab- 
sorbed, hydrochloric acid is evolved, the oil assumes a yellow 
color, and becomes very hot. If the chlorine is continued 
until the evolution of the hydrochloric acid ceases, the tem- 
perature of the oil decreases, and it becomes a crystalline 
mass. By dissolving this in boiling absolute alcohol, the 
compound is obtained on cooling, in transparent rhomboidal 
plates, slightly tinged with yellow. This substance is inso- 
luble in water, but soluble in alcohol, ether, and solutions of 
the fixed alkalies. When the crystals are dropped into a 
concentrated solution of potassa they turn red, and on the 
application of heat are dissolved, forming a deep red solution. 
By adding an acid to this solution the compound is precipi- 
tated unchanged. When heated, it fuses at a temperature of 
220° Fahr. into a colorless liquid, which readily crystallizes 
on cooling, 
When heated in close vessels^ it sublimes at a few degrees 
above its fusing point, and condenses in colorless rhomboidal 
crystals. Its vapor burns with a flame edged with green. 
Sulphuric acid dissolves it, from which it is precipitated by 
water. Its taste is peppery, and its odor peculiar. When 
the solution of this chlorine compound in potassa is evapo- 
rated, the salt is obtained in reddish colored crystals. 
The solution of this compound of oil of gaultheria with 
chlorine, in potassa, without decomposition, together with its 
other characteristics, renders its identitv with chlorosaliculic 
acid strongly probable. 
