220 VOLATILE OIL OF GAULTHERIA PROCUMBEKS. 
any hydrochloric acid, was placed in a long tube, and a cur- 
rent of dry ammonia passed over it for some time. The am- 
monia changed the color from white to light gray, and no 
moisture was condensed in the tube. When washed in wa- 
ter, this substance communicates a yellowish color to that 
fluid; on adding nitrate of silver a white precipitate is pro- 
duced, which is soluble in ammonia. After being dried it 
was dissolved in hot alcohol, and was obtained in crystalline 
plates of a light yellow color by cooling. These were soluble 
in a hot solution of potassa, without the separation of ammo- 
nia, forming a yellow solution, from which a white precipi- 
tate is thrown down by an acid. This substance does not 
appear to have the characters of chlorosaliculimide. 
Action of Nitric Acid on Oil of Gaultheria. — When oil 
of gaultheria is added to nitric acid, sp. gr. 1.40, no imme- 
diate action results; but if gently heated, copious fumes of 
nitrous acid are evolved, and the oil is converted into a yel- 
low crystalline substance. By washing with water, and dis- 
solving it in boiling alcohol, it is obtained in silky crystals, 
which have a pale yellow color, and acid properties. It is 
slightly soluble in water, to which, however, it communicates 
a yellow color; but alcohol and ether dissolve it more rea- 
dily. When heated to 200° Fahr., the crystals fuse into a 
yellow liquid ; more heat causes a partial sublimation, leav- 
ing a residue of charcoal. It changes litmus to yellow, with- 
out a trace of red; its solution colors the skin and nails deep 
yellow, and has little taste, but causes an irritation of the 
throat, which excites coughing. 
This acid combines with potassa to form a deep yellow 
crystalline salt. Its ammonia salt crystallizes in bright yellow 
needles, which, when heated, fuses, and then sublimes in 
small yellow crystals unchanged. It does not detonate when 
heated, like the other salts of this acid. 
A solution of either of these salts is precipitated yellow by 
acetate of lead, green by sulphate of copper, and yellow by 
nitrate of mercury. Sulphate of zinc and nitrate of silver 
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