RADIX SASSAi'RAS. 539 



Another constituent of sassafras oil has been termed by Grimaux 

 and Ruotte Safrene ; it boils at 155° to 157" C, has a sp. gr. of 0'834 

 and the formula 0^*^11^^ It has the same odour as safrol, but deviates 

 the plane of polarization to the right. 



It was further found by the same observers that the crude oil contains 

 an extremely small quantity of a substance of the phenol class, which 

 can be removed by caustic lye and separated by an acid. 



We succeeded in obtaining this substance by using that portion of 

 the crude oil from which the safrol had separated. The phenol 

 remains in the mother-liquor after it has again been cooled and has 

 afforded a new crystallization of safrol. The phenol thus obtained 

 assumes a beautiful greenish blue hue on addition of an alcoholic 

 solution of perchloride of iron. 



The Sassarubin and Sassafrin of Hare (1837) are impure products 

 of the decomposition of sassafras oil by means of sulphuric acid. 



The hark and also to some extent the ivood, in both cases of the 

 root, contain tannic acid which produces a blue colour with persalts of 

 iron. By oxidation, we must suppose, it is converted into the red 

 colouring matter deposited in the bark and, in smaller quantity, in the 

 heart-wood of old trees. The 3'Oung wood is nearly white. The said 

 red substance probably agrees with that to which Reinsch in 1845 and 

 1846 gave the name of Sassafrid, and is doubtless analogous to cin- 

 chona-red and ratanhia-red. Reinsch obtained it to the extent of 9*2 

 per cent. 



Production and Commerce — Baltimore is the chief mart for 

 sassafras root, bark and oil, which are brought thither from wdthin a 

 circuit of 300 miles. The roots are extracted from the ground by the 

 help of levers, partly barked and partly sent untouched to the market, 

 or are cut up into chips for distillation on the spot. Of the bai'k as 

 much as 100,000 lb. were received in Baltimore in 1866. The quantity 

 of oil annually produced previous to the war is estimated at 15,000 to 

 20,000 lb. There are isolated small distillers in Pennsylvania and 

 West New Jersey, who are allowed by the owners of a "sassafras 

 tvilderness " to remove from the ground the roots and stumps without 

 charge. Sassafras root is not medicinal in the United States, the more 

 aromatic root-bark being reasonably preferred.^ 



Uses — Sassafras is reputed to be sudorific and stimulant, but in 

 British practice it is only given in combination with sarsaparilla and 

 guaiacum. Shavings of the wood are sold to make Sassafras Tea. 



In America the essential oil is used to give a pleasant flavour to 

 effervescing drinks, tobacco and toilet soaps.- 



Substitutes — The odour of sassafras is common to several plants of 

 the order Lauracece. Thus the bark of Mespkilodaphne Sassafras 

 Meissn., a tree of Brazil, resembles in odour true sassafras. We have 

 seen a very thick sassafras bark brought from India, the same we suppose 

 as that which Mason' describes as abundantly produced in Burma. 



The bark of Atherosperma raoschatmn Labillardiere, an Australian 

 tree, is occasionally exported from Austi-alia under the name of Sassafras 



^ Besides this, I he pith of sassafras is a\w> - American Jouni. of Pharm. 1871. 470. 



there used as a popular remedy ; it is ou- ' Burmah, its jteopU and natural pro- 



tirely devoid of odour and taste, and is auctions, 1860. 497. 

 very slightly mucilaginoas. 



