:368 R. E. Farri/ .- 



Altogether about 17 ounces of the oil were obtained from the dis- 

 tillation of slightly over one Imndredweight of leaves, and the 

 jield, physical properties and composition of the two samples showed 

 only insignficant differences. [Vide Table I.] 



The Crude Oil. 



The crude oil is of a greenish colour, closely resembling in 

 .appearance that of E. globulus, l>ut its odour is quite distinctive, 

 suggesting cineol, cymene and a phenol as some of the constituents. 

 It is soluble in less than its own volume of 80 per cent, alcohol, but 

 requires four volumes of 70 per cent, alcohol. 



In addition to the tw^o above-mentioned samples of oil, a tliird, 

 distilled some -32 years ago, and which was possibly the sample 

 described by Baron von Mueller, was obtained from the Botanic 

 'Gai-dens Museum. 



TABLE I. 



Physical Properties of Oils from Ayonis flexuosa. 



Oil 1(a). is a portion of oil I., from which the phenol has been 

 removed. The cineol has been estimated by absorption in a satur- 

 ated aqueous solution of resorcin — a method that has proved more 

 satisfactory in our experience than the older phosphoric acid 

 method. 



Cleared Oil. 



Tlie first sample of oil obtained — the autumn collection — was then 

 investigated. 



Phenols. — It was first treated to remove phenols. To do this I'if) 

 c.c. of the oil were shaken with a normal aqueous solution of sodium 

 hydroxide until the phenols were dissolved ; the aqueous solution was 

 then separated, shaken out with ether to remove adhering oil, and 

 then acidified. The separated phenols were extracted with ether 

 and evaporated to a constant weight. The phenol was a dark 

 yellowish-brown liquid, with a smell, strongly suggesting creosote. 

 It was almost insolubU' in water, but dissolved easily in 80 per cent. 



