- 113 — 



of which is probably d-pinene 1 ). Some time ago, M. Delepine 2 ) has sub- 

 mitted the oil to further examination. In a fraction boiling at 44 to 46° 

 (14 mm) he found d-pinene (d^ 0,8791; [«] D + 47°45 r ; n Du o 1,46915), which 

 he identified by converting it into terpine hydrate (m. p. 116°) and pinene 

 hydrochloride (m. p. 130°). A fraction boiling at 62 to 64° (13 mm) was 

 found to contain dipentene (m. p. of the nitrolpiperidin 152°) and p-cymene, 

 which latter was identified by conversion into p-hydroxy-isopropylbenzoic 

 acid (m. p. 157°) and p-toluic acid (m. p. 177°). 



In a fraction boiling between 210 and 214° (d^ 0,9521; d^§ 0,9387), 

 Delepine discovered the presence of thymol methylether, a body of which 

 the presence, in common with that of other thymol-ethers, had not previously 

 been detected in essential oils, although the ethers of carvacrol frequently 

 occur in such oils. By treating this methyl ether with hydrobromic acid 

 in glacial acetic acid solution, the author obtained thymol. This particular 

 fraction was further found also to contain small proportions of other bodies, 

 including phenols, a high-molecular fatty acid and an alcohol with a rose- 

 like odour, but owing to the small quantity available the examination 

 could not be further pursued. 



Seeing that samphire oil contains dillapiol, it was to be expected 

 that it would be found to exert a powerful physiological action. From 

 J. Chevalier's 3 ) examination it appears, in fact, that the oil is a potent 

 poison, although in this respect its action is less drastic than that of oil 

 of parsley which, as is well known, contains apiol 4 ). 



Intraperitoneal injections of about 2 cc. of the oil per 1 kilo weight 

 of the animal proved fatal in the case of guinea-pigs. The first symptoms 

 after administration were a greatly increased reflex-sensitiveness, then 

 followed convulsions, after which the animal became comatose, remaining 

 in this condition until death. The effect upon dogs was similar. Dillapiol 

 isolated from samphire oil produced similar symptoms, except that the 

 action was somewhat more pronounced, the fatal dose for guinea-pigs 

 being 0,70 to 0,80 cc. per 1 kilo weight. 



Sandalwood Oil, East Indian. During the past few months business 

 in this important oil has been extraordinarily lively, and important contracts 

 have been concluded both at home and abroad. This branch of our 

 manufacture has been enormously extended, notwithstanding which we 

 are hardly ever able to prepare any quantity worth mentioning for stock. 

 We are working uninterruptedly with 18 stills of our own manufacture, 

 each of 8 000 liters capacity, and we again desire to call attention to the 



J ) Report October 1909, 108; April 1910, 94. 



2 ) Compt. rend. 150 (1910), 1061; Bull. Soc. chim. IV. 7 (1919), 468. 



3 ) Compt. rend, des seances de la Soc. de Biologie 68 (1910), 306; from a reprint kindly 

 sent to us. 



4 ) Comp. Report October 1909, 163; also the present Report, p. 92. 



