26 THE SASSAFRAS TREES GF QUEENSLAND, ETC. 



The commercial Sassafras oil from North America consists 

 of Safrol Cio Hjo 0^ which crystallizes out under 52° F. (12° C.) . 

 and which is held in solution by the hydrocarbon Safren Cjo Hjc. 

 Safrol is the essential part of Sassafras oil. The Sassafras oil 

 is sold by Elliot Bros, at sixpence or eightpence an ounce and one 

 hundredweight of Cmnamomum bark might yield 2 ounces of oil to 

 a good still, so that a profitable trade is quite out of the question. 

 The essential oil of Cinnamomum Oliceri is very likely not 

 identical with Sassafras oil. I had a small quantity of it under 

 ice for 2-1 hours, but not a trace of Safrol crystallized out of it. 

 The smell is different, too, very likely from the presence of 

 camphorigenol. The specific gravity is 1-072 as obtained by 

 direct weighing and the boiling point is 112 like that in the true 

 Sassafi'as oil. I have not yet quite finished my researches about 

 this oil and reserve the final result for another occasion. 



There is no doubt respecting the medicinal value of the bark, 

 and the farmers would be wise not to touch the trees now, 

 but wait patiently until there was a good demand. They 

 can try to sublimate the camphor out of the leaves — perhaps it 

 might pay well. 



It will prove a capital mistake it they get in London the 

 paper composed by Dr. Love and signed by me and are led to order 

 perhaps Nesodaphne bark from New South Wales — the Neso- 

 daphne bark being altogether different from the bark of 

 Cinnamomum Oliveri. 



The following passages in scientific books have to be altered 

 now accordingly : — 



Dr. J. Bancroft : " Contribution to Pharmacy from Queens- 

 land," p. 2, Cinnam. Oliveri instead of Nesodaphne obtusifolia 



Pharmaceutical Journal 1887, p. 989, the same. 



Maiden : " Useful Native Plants of Australia," p. 281, the 

 same. Besides this the specific gravity of the oil is stated to be 

 0-978 instead of 1-072. 



Page 328, the same ; and, besides, the tannin is not identical 

 with Cinchona tannin. 



