PIPERACEj^. 191 



removal of the higher-boiling compound. Some experiments 

 made with chavicol are said to have shown it to be a powerful 

 antiseptic, it being five times stronger as a bacteriacide than 

 carbolic acid, and twice as strong as eugenol. {Fharm. Journ.^ 

 Nov. 30th, 1889.) 



A sample of oil distilled from fresh betel leaves in Manila, 

 at the request of Messrs. Schimmel, is described as of a golden 

 yellow colour, possessing a pronounced odour of betelphenol 

 and having a specific gravity of 1*044 at 15° C. The phenol 

 was separated from the oil by the method of Bertram and 

 Gildemeister, and during the purification by distillation at a 

 pressure of 11 mm, it passed over quite regularly between 128' 

 and 129^, a behaviour that pointed to a homogeneous body. 

 By treatment of the phenol with benzoyl chloride a benzoyl 

 compound was obtained that crystallized in scales and melted 

 at 50°. It was evident that this was not a mixture of benzoyl 

 compounds, as the portion that crystallized first had the same 

 melting-point as that which crystaUized last ; it followed, 

 therefore, that it represented no other phenol than betelphenol. 

 Other constituents occur in this oil only in a small quantity, 

 and of these, to judge from the boiling point, terpenes form 

 only a small fraction. The results of the examination of betel 

 oil up to the present time may therefore be summed up as 

 follows : 



(1) Oil distilled from fresh leaves from Java (Eijkman), 

 contained besides terpenes and other bodies, chavicol and 

 betelphenol. 



(2) Oil from dried Siam leaves consisted of sesquiterpene and 

 betelphenol, 



(3) Oil distilled from fresh leaves (Java) contained terpenes, 

 betelphenol and a small quantity of another phenol (probably 

 chavicol), the nature of which could not be determined, from 

 want of material (melting point of the benzoyl compound 



72^-73^). 



(4) Oil from fresh leaves distilled in Manila contained no 

 other phenol than betelphenol. 



