•214
ELEMENTS OF MATERIA MEDICA.
insoluble in water, but dissolves readily in alcohol and ether. It neitherreddens litmus nor precipitates a solution of chloride of barium, so thatthe sulphuric acid contained in it seems to be completely neutralized.
According to Mr. Hennell ethereal oil dissolves a variable quantity ofa | carbo-hydrogen, part of which separates in a crystalline form whenthe oil is kept for some time, or when exposed to cold. This crystallinecompound, the existence of which was first pointed out by Mr. Hennell,is called wine-oil-camphor ( Weinol-Campher) by Gmelin ( Handb. d. Che-mie, 2 tr . Bd. s. 405 ),—etherine by Liebig {Handivort d Chemie, l er . Bd.s. 116).
When ethereal oil is slightly heated with water it yields etherco-sul-phuric acid (sulpho-vinic acid of Hennell) and a light oily fluid (light orsweet oil of wine) which floats on water. This substance is a mixtureof two isomeric compounds,—the one a solid ( wine-oil-camphor or ethe-rine) the other a liquid (ether-oil of Liebig ). Each of these compoundsis a | carbo-hydrogen (Liebig and Poggendorf, Handw'brt. d. Chemie ,l er . Bdes. s. 119).
Characteristics.— Ethereal oil is recognized by its oily appearance,its peculiar odour and taste, its slight solubility in, but greater specificgravity than, water, and its solubility in ether and alcohol. If it beheated in a test tube it yields an inflammable vapour which burns likeolefiant gas, and a carbonaceous residue which contains sulphuric acid,as is proved by lixiviating with water and testing by chloride of barium.Ethereal oil added to a solution of chloride barium, occasions no cloudi-ness, but if we evaporate the mixture to dryness, the residue is found tocontain sulphate of baryta.
Composition.— Three chemists have analysed ethereal oil, namely,Plennell, Serullas, and Liebig . The results of two only of these agree,namely, those of Liebig and Serullas.
Eq.
Eq.Wt.
Theory.
Serullas.
Eq.
Eq.Wt.
Per Cent.
. 2
. 80 .
. 55-17 .
. 55-614
. 55-02
. . 1 .
. . 40 .
. . 38-0
-Carbon ....
. 8
. 48 .
. 33-10 .
. 33-180
. 33-05
. . 9 .
. . 54 .
. . 53-7
Hydrogen. . .
. 8
. 8 .
. 5-52 .
. 5-418
. 5-49
. . 9 .
9 .
. . 8-3
Water ....
. 1
. 9 .
6-21 .
. 5-788
. 6-11
. . 0 .
. . 0 .
. . 00
Ether 1 .Oil{Ph.L.) 1 .
. 145 .
100-00 .
. 100 000
. 99-67
. . 1 .
. . 103 .
. . 100-0
Mr. Hennell regards ethereal oil as a sulphate of hydrocarbon, whereasDumas considers it to be a sulphate of ether. Serullas called it a doublesulphate of ether and hydrocarbon. Lastly, Liebig regards it as an ethereo-sulphate of (a f carbo-hydrogen, which he terms) ether-oil.
These different opinions may be thus represented:—
leq.Efhereo-sulpc. Ad. 117
1 eq. Ether-oil. 28
5 2 eq. Sulphuric Acid 80
4 eq. Hydrocarbon .. 28
1 eq. Sulphuric Acid .. 401 eq. Ether. 37
1 eq. Sulpha Acid . 409 eq. Hydrocarbon . 63
; 1 eq.Ethereo-sulpliateEther-oil .145
leq.Doub.Sulphe.Eth r . 1 1 eq. Sulphate Ether..117and Hydrocarbon . 145 1
1 eq. Sulphate Hy-drocarbon.103
Physiological Effects. —These have not been determined. I gavefifteen drops to a small rabbit: death took place within an hour. Thesymptoms were indisposition to move, apparent tendency to sleep, fol-lowed by incapability of supporting the erect position, occasional convul-sive movements, grating of the teeth, and insensibility. The body was