Since the nature and composition of oil is so well known, pray could not oil be actually made, by combining its principles?
MRS. B.
That is by no means a necessary consequence; for there are innumerable varieties of compound bodies which we can decompose, although we are unable to reunite their ingredients. This, however, is not the case with oil, as it has very lately been discovered, that it is possible to form oil, by a peculiar process, from the action of oxygenated muriatic acid gas on hydro-carbonate.
We now pass to the volatile or essential oils. These form the basis of all the vegetable perfumes, and are contained, more or less, in every part of the plant excepting the seed; they are, at least, never found in that part of the seed which contains the embrio plant.
EMILY.
The smell of flowers, then, proceeds from volatile oil?
MRS. B.
Certainly; but this oil is often most abundant in the rind of fruits, as in oranges, lemons, &c. from which it may be extracted by the slightest pressure; it is found also in the leaves of plants, and even in the wood.
CAROLINE.
Is it not very plentiful in the leaves of mint, and of thyme, and all the sweet-smelling herbs?