310 UMBELLIFERvE. 



by the manufacturers of Dresden and Leipzig.^ We have been supplied 

 with type-specimens of the first two oils by the distillers, Messrs. J. 

 Sagnier, fils, & Cie., Nimes; a specimen of the third has been distilled 

 in the laboratory of one of ourselves. 



Oil of fennel differs from that of anise by displaying a considerable 

 rotatory power. We found the above-mentioned specimens, examined 

 in a column 50 mm. long, to deviate the ray of polarized light to the 

 right thus : — 



Oil of Sweet Fennel 29° -8 



„ Bitter „ 4°-8 



,, German ,, 9°-l 



The rotatory power is due to the hydrocarbon contained in the oil ; 

 we ascertain that anethol from oil of anise is devoid of it. 



Fennel fruits contain sugar, yet their sweetness or bitterness depends 

 on the essential oil rather than on the presence of tliat body. The 

 albumen of the seed contains fixed oil, which amounts to about 12 per 

 cent, of the fruit. 



Uses— Fennel fruits are used in medicine in the form of distilled 

 water and volatile oil, but to no considerable extent. The chief con- 

 sumption is in cattle medicines, and of the oil in the manufacture of 

 cordials. 



FRUCTUS ANISI. 



Anise, Aniseed; F. Fruits d'Anis vert; G. Anis. 



_ Botanical Ovigm—Pinqiinella Anisum L., an annual plant, is 

 indigenous to Asia Minor, the Greek Islands and Egypt, but nowhere 

 to be met with undoubtedly growing wild. It is now also cultivated 

 m many parts of Europe where the summer is hot enough for ripening 

 BritSn "^^ ^""^^^ ^^ ^^ ^^^^^ ^^^ ^"^^^^^ America. It is not grown m 



History—Anise, which the ancients obtained chiefly from Crete and 

 Tt, IS among the oldest of medicines and sDices.^ It is mentioned 



Egypt 



It is m 



as well as 



w P^ • -3 1. "^ ^^^ writers jjiosconaes ana riiuy, aa w^*---- 



n^n? f'' ^ m^° .enumerates anise ** sorte de grains douce " among the 

 ?nmr;; i""^ Tr^'^^- ^^ ^"^°Pe ^e find thSt Charlemagne (a.d. 812) 

 commanded that anise should be cultivated on the imoerial farms m 

 nJ^f^S^'i . Anglo-Saxon writings contain frequent allusions to the 

 use ot dill and cumin, but we have failed to find m them any reference 

 to amse nor m the Meddygon Myddfai. 



(miisium) 



fur renair" +1^ ^i^x unrage granted by Edward I. in ] 

 thp PnW ^^"f-!- ,.,P of i^ondon,* enumerates ^7iise (cmistumj i^^^-'-c 

 of VZ^ ^ *,'"' ^!f^^' *^ ^^^- There are entries for it under the name 

 dulT hirn ';? * • ' T^'T^ ^^ ^^^ ^^P^n^es of Jolm, king of France 

 Sthl n ^^' 'n ^"S^''^^'^' no^-^Of and it is one of the spices of 

 en the Crocers Company of London had the weighing and oversight 



porta the Si w5f , ""^ /^^mmerce re- quoted in the article Fructua Carui, p. 305, 



menta in lV2a8^4?-ff .^y fowr establish- note 5. \ ;„ 



' On the' tS: tme Bibf ^' ''■^- ' [Thomson, R.], CkronicUs of London 



our article Fnactus AnSh? ' ''' """^^ '" ^'•'<'/^' 1S27. 156. ^ „ ..,,i, 



'Page 150 of the <■?>;« ■ ,■ „ « Doiiet d'Arcq, Comptes de VArgenteu'^ 



Descnption," etc., dee Hois de FraiKC, 1851. 206. 220. 



