354 CHEMICAL DISCOVERY AND INVENTION 



The perfume of the hyacinth is a very peculiar one, and is 

 supposed to be due to the presence of cinnamic alcohol, 

 C 6 H 5 -CH : CH-CH 2 OH. This is a crystalline, though volatile, 

 solid. 



The methyl ester of anthranilic acid C 6 H 4 (NH 2 )CO-OCH 3 is 

 found in neroli from orange flowers, tuberose, ylang-ylang, 

 jasmin, gardenia, and other flowers. This also is a crystalline 

 compound, and is made by the action of the acid on methyl 

 alcohol in the presence of hydrogen chloride. 



Methyl salicylate has already been mentioned as derived from 

 the wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens). It occurs in a number 

 of plants, but in most of them, including the gaultheria, it 

 appears to exist in the form of a glucoside. The yield of oil is 

 increased by wetting the plant and keeping it for a few hours 

 before distillation, when a fermentation sets in by which the 

 glucose is destroyed. 



Ethyl and amyl salicylates are made and used in perfumery, 

 but they are not known to be contained in any natural essential 

 oils. 



The odour of the heliotrope is said to be due to piperonal 



C-CHO 



which has long been known. 



The only important compound not referred to so far is camphor. 

 This substance has been known from very early times, and before 

 the sixth century was brought to Europe by the Arabians. In 

 China and the East generally it has always been regarded as a 

 valuable medicine, and is familiar enough in modern use both 

 as a medicinal agent and antiseptic, as well as for other 

 purposes, for example in the manufacture of celluloid. The 

 greater part of the camphor of European commerce is obtained 

 from the island of Formosa, and is distinguished as Japanese or 



