CAMEL-GRASS. 311 
admitted into the still by a pipe at the bottom can be blown 
through the mass until oil ceases to drop into the receiver. 
Dr. Piesse in his work on Perfumes states the yield to be 10 ozs. 
per cwt., but according to Watts* the yield of 100 lbs. of root 
is only 2 ozs.; other observers have found it to vary between 0:2 
and 3°5 per cent.t The crude heavy oil is very viscid, consisting 
mainly of a liquid boiling at 280°-283°C. It does not appear 
that the light oil of vetiver is met with in England as an article 
of commerce, but it is worthy of attention on account of its 
delicate fragrance. It seems to blend well with the odours of 
orris root and cassie flowers (Acacia Farnesiana). The uses of 
Vetiver in England are confined to the distillation of the oil, 
which commands a very high price. The oil enters into the 
composition of many favourite perfumes, as ‘ Mousseline des 
Indes,” Maréchal, “ Bouquet du Roi,” ete., and it is known that 
in India the roots are woven into fans, screens to cool the 
atmosphere, ornamental baskets, etc. Dr. Irvine, in his “ Medical 
Topography of Ajmere,’’ mentions the oil in the preparation of 
sherbet. In India it enters into the composition of several cooling 
medicines. An aromatic bath is prepared by adding to a tub of 
water the following substances :—roots of A. muricatus, Pavonia 
odorata, santal-wood, and a fragrant wood called “ Padma 
Kastha ” f. 
Camel-grass.—This aromatic grass seems to be very little 
known in England by name, and its essential oil does not appear 
to be known at all. Botanically it is the Andropogon Lanigerum 
of Desfontaines. It is identical with Fanum Camelorum and 
Juncus odoratus. It has been termed Cymbopogon Laniger, and 
it partly agrees with Roxburgh’s description of A. Jwarancusa. 
It has been long known to pharmacists in the East as Herba 
Schenanthus. It is figured by Pomet as “‘Squenanthe”§. In 
Bengal it is known as ‘ Ibharankusha,” in the North-western 
Provinces (amongst other names) as “ Ganguli-ban.”” The name 
in Bombay and Arabia (for the culms of the plant, with or 
without a portion of the root) is “Izkhir”; this name, as given 
* Watts’ Dict. Chemistry, 1868, v. p. 999. 
+ “The plant is very common in the Mascarenes ; it often borders the fields 
of sugar-cane, and does not require the least care for its cultivation. Of this 
essence 400 or 500 grammes are furnished by 50 kilos of roots. . .”—Gardener’s 
Chronicle, 16 July, 1892. 
{ Hindu Mat. Med., p. 271. § Hist. des Drogues, p. 173. 
