122

COMPOSITION

large proportion of water, as is often done with re-gard to peppermint. Frequently also, these odori-ferous waters are prepared merely by soaking theplants in water, and distilling. The water thencomes over impregnated with the volatile oil.

CAROLINE.

Such Avaters arc frequently used to take spots ofgrease out of cloth, or silk ; Iioav do they producethat effect'?

MRS. B.

By combining with the substance that formsthese stains; for volatile oils dissolve AVax, talloAv,spermaceti, and resins; if therefore the spot proceedsfrom any of these substances it will remove it. In-sects of every kind have a great aversion to per-fumes, so that volatile oils are employed with suc-cess in museums for the preservation of stuffed birdsand other species of animals.

CAROLINE.

Pray does not the poAvcrful smell of camphorproceed from a volatile oil ?

MRS. B.

Camphor seems to be a substance of its ownkind, remarkable by many peculiarities. But if notexactly of the same nature as volatile oil, it is at

2