Aromatic compound

“ Solution of acetate of ammonia, 3 fl. oz.; antimonial wine, 2 fl. dr.; tincture of henbane, 11⁄2 fl. dr.; camphor mixture, 3 fl. oz.—Dose, 1 table-spoonful every 3 or 4 hours; in fevers, &c.
2. To the last add of sweet spirit of nitre, 1⁄2 fl. oz. As above.
Mixture for Diarrhœa. (Board of Health.) Syn. Mistura pro diarrhœa. Aromatic powder, 3 dr.; compound spirits of ammonia, 3 dr.; tincture of catechu, 10 dr.; compound tincture of cardamoms, 6 dr.; tincture of opium, 1 dr.; chalk mixture to make 20 oz.—Dose. For an adult, 1 oz.; for a child of 12 years of age, 1⁄2 oz.; for 7 years, 1⁄4 oz. ”

“ For the extraction of aromatic substances from plants a number of bodies are used which possess great solvent power for essential oils, and are besides very volatile, or have a low boiling-point. These are particularly ether, chloroform, petroleum ether, and bisulphide of carbon. ”

“ The researches of chemists in the aromatic series outweigh in both number and importance those in all other sections. The once despised refuse coal-tar has created an entirely new chemistry, and, in its products and derivatives, is by far the most promising field for investigators. The compounds of the aromatic series have afforded some of the most notable successes in synthetical chemistry, as well as some of the most useful substances for dyeing, for hygienic and medicinal purposes. ”

“ This method is based on the fact that some volatile liquids such as ether, chloroform, petroleum ether, or bisulphide of carbon possess the property of rapidly extracting the aromatic substances from flowers; when they are evaporated at a gentle heat they leave the pure odors behind. ”

“ Properties.—White translucent masses, of a tough consistence and a crystalline structure, readily pulverizable in the presence of a little alcohol ether or chloroform; having a penetrating characteristic odor, and a pungent aromatic taste. Very sparingly soluble in water, but readily soluble in alcohol, ether, chloroform, carbon disulphide, petroleum, benzine and in fixed and volatile oils. On exposure to the air, it evaporates more or less rapidly at ordinary temperatures, and when moderately heated, it sublimes without leaving a residue. ”

“ The sub-divisions of (2) the organic substances are into (a) the unsaturated carbon compounds—benzene, petroleum, methyl-, ethyl-, amyl-, and allyl-alcohol, oxalic acid, formal- and acetaldehyde, acrolein, acetone, methyl-bromide and iodide, nitro-glycerin, dimethyl-sulphate and amyl acetate, and (b) the aromatic series benzene, nitro-, chloro-nitro-, dinitro-, chloro-dinitro-benzene, phenol, picric acid, phenyl-hydrazine, aniline, and certain aniline colours, para-nitraniline, pyridine, naphthalene, nitro-naphthalene, naphthlyamine, naphthol, benzidine, acridine, turpentine, and nicotine. ”

“ Are native compounds of ethereal or essential oils, with resin, and frequently benzoic acid. Most of them have the consistence of honey; but a few are solid, or become so by keeping. They flow either spontaneously, or by incisions made from trees and shrubs in tropical climates. They possess peculiar powerful smells, aromatic hot tastes, but lose their odoriferous properties by long exposure to the air. They are insoluble in water; soluble, to a considerable degree, in ether; and completely in alcohol. When distilled with water, ethereal oil comes over, and resin remains in the retort. ”

“ Zwaardemaker’s is the classification most usually followed at present, and as it is to him we owe most of our knowledge of scientific olfaction, we shall detail it here :
(1) Ethereal or fruity odours; (2) aromatic, including as sub-classes camphrous, herbaceous, anisic and thymic, citronous, and the bitter almond group; (3) balsamic, with sub-groups floral, liliaceous, and vanillar; (4) ambrosial or muscous ; (5) garlicky (including garlic) , oniony, fishy, and the bromine type of odour; (6) empyreumatic (guaiacol) ; (7) caprylic (valerianic acid) ; (8) disgusting ; and (9) nauseating. ”

“ Furthermore, there is no sharp dividing line between the essential oils and certain esters of organic acids on the one hand and the fats on the other. For example, if an aromatic fluid essence is a light fluid, non-viscid, and easily volatile, it is usually classed with the organic esters; denser liquid substances, of oily or waxy consistency, and with comparatively slight odor and taste are usually fats, while oils of similar physical properties but possessing strong characteristic odors are classed as essential oils, regardless of their chemical composition. ”

“ Aromatic Amines.—The aromatic amines in some respects resemble the aliphatic amines, since they form salts with acids, and double salts with platinum chloride, and they also distil without decomposition. ”

“ Under conditions of high humidity, the breakthrough volumes may be reduced. Other volatile organic compounds such as alcohols, ketones, ethers, and halogenated hydrocarbons are potential analytical interferences. ”

“ Petroleum, therefore, is heated in large apparatuses to about 70 or 80° C. (158 to 176° F.) , when the more volatile products pass over, and the petroleum for illuminating purposes remains in the stills. A certain fraction of the volatile distillate, the so-called petroleum ether, is largely used in the manufacture of varnishes. Owing to its great solvent power for aromatic vegetable substances and its low price, petroleum ether has become quite an important body for the extraction of perfumes, which will be further discussed hereafter. ”

“ Besides these ethers and aldehydes whose identity with essences of vegetable origin has been proved, there exist, among the new bodies known to organic chemistry, a certain number of products formed by the union of common alcohol or amylic alcohol with different acids, that is to say, of ethers, which have aromatic odors more or less resembling those of some fruits, but as to which it cannot yet be affirmed that the odors are due to the same principles in both cases. ”

“ When the oil is expressed by heating the plates of the press, or by previously roasting the seeds, it is more disposed to become rancid; cold drawn oils are on this account to be preferred for the purposes of pharmacy. Solubility. They are insoluble in water, and, except castor oil, nearly so in alcohol and æther; with caustic alkalies they combine and form soaps; when aided by heat they readily unite with oxide of lead, forming the solid compound well known by the term plaister. They unite also very readily with each other, and with volatile oils. Solvent Powers. ”

“ Form, pieces covered with a whitish wrinkled thin epidermis; the inner surface is smooth, of a brownish yellow colour. Odour, not strong, but peculiar. Taste, bitter, slightly aromatic, and permanent. Chemical Composition. Cinchonia, resin, extractive, carbonate of ammonia, and essential oil. Solubility. Its active matter is taken up by cold and hot water, and is not injured by long decoction, but the addition of alcohol precipitates part of the extractive. Alcohol dissolves its bitter and aromatic parts, but proof spirit appears to be its most complete menstruum. ”

“ The spiritus ammoniæ aromaticus is made without the spirit, the aromatic oils being emulsionized by means of rubbing up with fine sand, but most of these subsequently rise to the surface. The spiritus etheris nitrosi is impossible without alcohol, but nitrite of amyl, and nitrites of potash or soda can be substituted. The spiritus chloroformi is replaced by aqua chloroformi, or as a sweetening agent by solution of saccharin. Thus a favorite expectorant mixture contains carbonate of ammonia five grains, acetum ipecac, ten minims, and solution of saccharin in each dose. ”

“ It hath been shewn, that Resins have an aromatic odour; that they are indissoluble in water, and soluble in [Pg 477] Spirit of Wine; that they are only an Essential Oil grown thick. Gums, on the contrary, have no odour, are soluble in water, indissoluble in Spirit of Wine, and, by being analyzed as in the process, are converted almost wholly into a phlegm and an Acid. The small portion of Oil contained in them is so thoroughly united with their Acid, that it dissolves perfectly in water, and the solution is clear and limpid. ”

“ If combustion takes place, which is always the case with all the aromatic woods that are introduced into pastils, we have, besides the volatilized otto which the wood contains, all the compounds naturally produced by the slow burning of ligneous matter, spoiling the true odor of the other ingredients volatilized. ”

“ Is not absorbed by the intestine and has no nutritive properties.
Dosage: 15 Cc. or 4 fluidrachms (U.S.P.) .
Nebula Aromatica (Nebul. Arom.) , Aromatic Oil Spray, N.F. (Aromatol) .—Light liquid petrolatum aromatized with phenol, menthol, thymol, camphor, benzoic acid, eucalyptol, oil of cinnamon, oil of clove and methyl salicylate.
Uses: An aromatic spray.
Petroxolinum Liquidum (Petrox. Liq.) , Liquid Petroxolin, N.F. (Petrolatum Saponatum Liquidum, N.F. III, Liquid Petrox) .—Light liquid petrolatum and ammonium oleate, scented with oil of lavender and diluted with water and alcohol. ”

“ The mixture of oil, sulphuric acid and alcohol is perfectly clear and transparent with oils of bitter almonds, fennel, clove and rose; with anise-seed oil and star anise-seed oil only the alcoholic layer over the mixture of sulphuric acid and oil is clear. The mixture of oil, acid and alcohol is slightly turbid or nearly clear with oils of valerian, peppermint and field thyme. With most of the other volatile oils occurring in commerce, the mixture is more or less milky turbid. ”

“ Among compounds, especially in organic chemistry, many cases occur in which several different bodies have precisely the same elementary composition. For instance, the essential oils of rose, bergamot, orange, lemon, lavender, turpentine, rosemary, nutmegs, myrtle, peppermint, etc., unlike as they may be in outward properties, are all composed of carbon and hydrogen in exactly the same percentages. ”

“ Cahours’ excellent researches concerning the essential oil of gaultheria procumbens (a North American plant of the natural order of the Ericinæ of Jussieu,) which admits of so many applications in perfumery, have opened a new field in this branch of industry. The introduction of this oil among compound ethers must necessarily direct the attention of perfumers towards this important branch of compounds, the number of which is daily increasing by the labors of those who apply themselves to organic chemistry. ”

“ Anise-seed oil is soluble in 5 parts of 90 per cent. alcohol, and with 31⁄2 times its volume of petroleum-ether yields a clear mixture. Its mixture with four times its weight of petroleum-ether is turbid, but becomes clear in ten minutes, while that with five times its volume of petroleum-ether remains for a longer time turbid. In a fluid state the oil, when exposed to the air, becomes resinous and loses its property to crystallize. ”

“ Why will some substances absorb moisture from the air, and liquefy, while others become as dry as dust under like conditions? Why does the vapor of sulphuric ether inflame, while the vapor of chloroform is not combustible, under ordinary conditions? Oil of turpentine, oil of lemon, and oil of bergamot differ in odor, yet they are composed of the same elements, united in the same proportion; why should they possess such distinctive, individual characteristics? Further search of the chemist will explain only to shove the word why into another space, as ripples play with and toss a cork about. ”

“ The oxygenated essential oils may be either alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, acids, esters, or phenols, derived from either five-membered or six-membered closed-ring hydrocarbons. They are usually present in the plant oil in mixtures with each other or with a terpene. ”

“ When benzoic acid is prepared by any of the wet processes, it is free from the fragrant volatile oil which accompanies it when prepared by sublimation from the resin, and to which oil the acid of commerce owes its peculiar odor. ”

“ It was then thought that perhaps the oil could be converted into an ester which might be more volatile and could be distilled out. 20 grams of the original material were dissolved in 100 cc. of absolute alcohol containing 3 grains of hydrochloric acid gas, and the mixture was heated 10 hours on a water-bath under a return condenser. After the heating, the mixture had a delightful ethereal odor. ”

“ Some oils become darker on exposure to light, while others, for instance, lemon oil, become colorless. Most volatile oils, as previously mentioned, absorb oxygen from the air with avidity and combine chemically with it. Thinly-fluid oils become perceptibly more thickly-fluid and finally even rigid, the product of oxidation being a resinous body. Some volatile oils containing aldehydes are converted, by the absorption of oxygen, into acids, cinnamic acid being, for instance, formed in cinnamon oil, and benzoic acid in oil of bitter almonds. ”

“ The whole process of distillation appears, therefore, to be a decomposition by which the pitchy substance is converted into oil, acetic acid, ammonia and charcoal.
I proceeded next to examine the oil. It has a violently pungent taste and smell. It is scarcely heavier than water; so that it sinks in that fluid with difficulty, leaving generally some drops on the surface. It is perfectly soluble in alcohol, in ether, in caustic alkali, in olive oil, and in linseed oil. It will unite neither to naphtha, nor to the recent essential oils, but is soluble in the old ones. ”