[bencollier]

Hi all,

I need your help. I friend of mine describes following these instructions:

"'The Primum Ens Melissae is prepared in the following manner: Take half a pound of pure carbonate of potash, and expose it to the air until it is dissolved (by attracting water from the atmosphere). Filter the fluid, and put as many fresh leaves of the plant melissa into it as it will hold, so that the fluid will cover the leaves. Let it stand in a well-closed glass in a moderately warm place for twenty-four hours. The fluid may then be removed from the leaves, and the latter thrown away. On the top of this fluid absolute alcohol is poured, so that it will cover the former to the height of one or two inches, and it is left to remain for one or two days, or until the alcohol becomes of an intensely green colour. This alcohol is then to be taken away and preserved, and fresh alcohol is put upon the alkaline fluid, and the operation is repeated until all the colouring matter is absorbed by the alcohol. This alcoholic fluid is now to be distilled, and the alcohol evaporated until it becomes of the thickness of a syrup, which is the Primum Ens Melissae; but the alcohol that has been distilled away and the liquid potash may be used again. The liquid potash must be of great concentration and the alcohol of great strength, else they would become mixed, and the experiment would not succeed.'"

I am told that the experiment is successful if the resultant liquid is bright green, and unsuccessful if a yellowish brown. Could anyone explain to me why the variation in colour might occur?

Many thanks,

Ben

Edit: I'm no chemist, and apparently I should have tried to solve this myself before posting (just read the rules!). Short of learning one hell of a lot, I can't do this, but if anyone could take a stab an an answer for the sheer pleasure of solving an interesting problem, I'd be very grateful. The resulting substance is supposed to be the spiritual essence of the plant, but it would be interesting to know what it really is!

[AWK]

Did you used fresh leaves or dried ones?