24 MYRTACER. 
History, Uses, &c.—This oil appears to have been firs 
prepared as an article of commerce by the Dutch about 172’ 
account of their aromatic properties ; this led to their distilla 
tion, and Rumphius relates how the oil was obtained in ve! 
small quantities, and was regarded as a powerful sudorific. 
the present century, about the time when it first became 
article of commerce in England. The island of Bouro in 
Molucca Sea is stated by Bickmore, an American trave 
who passed some time there, to produce about 8,000 bottle 
annually ; but from the trade returns of the Straits Settle 
ments it appears that the largest quantity is shipped fr 
Celebes. (Pharmacographia.) The oilis much used in India 
psoriasis, eczema and acne so common in India. 
__ Deseription.—Cajuput oil varies in colour from yel 
green to bluish green; it is a transparent mobile flu itl 
an agreeable camphoraceous odour, and bitter aromatic taste 
sp. gr. 0°926, it remains liquid at 18° C., and deviates the ray 
of polarized light to the left. a 
Chemical composition.—The researches of Schmidt and oth eI 
chemists have shown that caj uput oil consists chiefly of hydrate 
of cajuputal or cineol, C'°H'®0, which may be obtained from 
the crude oil by fractional distillation at 174° C. If itis 
peatedly distilled from P?O* it is converted into terpe 
Cineol, a liquid smelling like camphor, is the chief constit 
of Ol. Cinw and Ol. Cajuputi; it occurs 
(Weber.) For its reactions and chemical composition 
reader is referred to Watt’s Dict. of Chem, by Morley 
