- 30 - 



Concerning the use of camphor against mosquitos, see p. 170. 



For two cases of poisoning after internal administration of camphor, 

 see Pharmaco-physiological Notes, p. 170. 



Cananga Oil. The transactions in this oil during the past summer 

 have been entirely normal, and as the supplies were not out of proportion 

 to the requirements, no important alterations in price can be recorded. 

 It would appear that the production in Java is gradually being concentrated 

 in the hands of a few planters, who will probably do their utmost to 

 prevent a recurrence of the over-production under which the article has 

 suffered so severely for many years. Recently a more lively demand, at 

 rising prices, has been reported, but it remains to be seen whether the 

 considerable stocks of cheap oil, which appear to be in the hands of a 

 few interested parties, will not prevent any upward movement. 



Elze 1 ) has recently isolated two new constituents, nerol and farnesol, 

 from Java cananga oil. He saponified the portions of the oil containing 

 geraniol, fractionated the saponified oil in vacuo and isolated the nerol in 

 the usual manner. The alcohol so obtained possessed the following con- 

 stants: di 5 o 0,880, « D i0. The diphenylurethane melted at 50 to 50,5°. 

 Cananga oil contains about 0,2 °/o nerol, and the author was also able to 

 detect the presence of nerol in bergamot oil, myrtle oil, champaca flower 

 oil, and Spanish wormwood oil. 



By means of phthalic anhydride, the high-boiling portions of cananga oil 

 yielded farnesol (b. p. 145 to 146°; di 5 o 0,895; « D i0) which was isolated 

 to the extent of about 0,3 °/o. 



Elze found farnesol also in Peru balsam oil, tolu balsam oil, and 

 palmarosa oil. 



Caraway Oil. According to reports by the Dutch Ministry of Agri- 

 culture, dated 15th July, 7787 hectares were under caraway in Holland this 

 year, which means a fresh extension of about 670 hectares as compared 

 with 1909. The cultivation has been specially extended in the province of 

 Zeeland, whereas the area under caraway in the province of South Holland 

 was smaller than in 1909. In North Brabant also the fields have been ex- 

 tended. At first the condition of the crop warranted the highest hopes, 

 with a result that the prices of new caraway seed gradually receded to 

 Fl. 14.50 and subsequently to Fl. 13 per 50 kilos. The flowering time and 

 the setting of the fruit passed under the best conditions imaginable, but 

 unfortunately the harvest itself took place in exceedingly unfavourable 

 weather, and resulted in serious disappointment, the average essential 

 oil yield of the seed being from 25°/o to 30°/o below that of 1909. Even 

 the seed from districts which in ordinary times yield an exquisite quality, 



!) Chem. Ztg. 34 (1910), 857. 



