264 R. T. BAKER AND H. G. SMITH. 
matter, and their statements are important, because of their 
reputation. It is not, perhaps, necessary to refer to their earlier 
remarks on eucalyptus oil, so we only quote a few of the state- 
ments made during the last five years. In the 1892 April report 
appears the following : —‘‘ We, therefore, for several months, have 
only sold and quoted rectified eucalyptus oils, and guaranteed to 
contain 60—70 per cent. pure eucalyptol, crystallising at — 1°C. On 
buying eucalyptus oil in the future not only the name but also 
the percentage of eucalyptol should be taken into consideration. 
Eucalyptol is to be considered as the constituent of eucalyptus 
oil, to which its medicinal action must be ascribed.” The October 
report of the same year contains the following :—‘“ The opinion 
always maintained by us that the value of commercial eucalyptus 
oils must be determined according to their percentage of eucalyptol 
(cineol), and not by their origin and source, has recently been 
supported also by English experts. A specimen was sent to us 
from another house in Australia under the name ‘Oil of 
Eucalyptus crude,’ which proved completely worthless. It pos- 
sesses a sp. gr. of 0.8616, boils between 160 and 195°C., contains 
a large quantity of phellandrene, but only small quantities of 
cineol in the highest fractions. The optical rotation is — 52°.” 
In October, 1893, they report as follows :—‘‘ Under the circum- 
stances the variation in quality of the Australian distillates which 
has once more shown itself lately is more and more fatal to those 
varieties. After a careful sounding of the London market we 
come to the conclusion that about one-half of the oils there 
offered were quite destitute of cineol (eucalyptol), or only con- 
tained the substance in feeble proportions.” In April, 1897, the 
following appears :—<‘‘In the prevailing brisk competition in the 
supply of this oil between Algiers and Australia the latter seems 
to meet with increasing success. The choice in the purchase of 
this commodity requires some skill and experience, inasmuch as 
the various brands show considerable variations in the percentage 
of eucalyptol. This alone is the sure criterion for the quality and 
value of the various brands, no matter of what botanical origin 
they may be.” 
