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clearly different. Moreover, the sp.gr. of the two samples was higher 

 than that of sage oil; and they also differed from that oil in being laevo- 

 rotatory. At our request a sample of the distilling-material had been 

 forwarded with the second oil-sample, and we were therefore in a position 

 to have the raw material botanically examined. Dr. Giessler ascertained 

 that the plant from which the oil was distilled does not belong to the genus 

 Salvia at all, but is, in fact, Meriandra benghalensis, Benth.; N. O. Labiatae 

 (recently re-named M. dianthera, Briq.), the leaves of which, as a popular 

 remedy, are used for similar purposes as those of sage. Upon distilling 

 the raw material it yielded us l,5°/o of a pale brown oil, with an odour 

 reminding both of sage and of rosemary. Further examination produced 

 the following results: d l50 0,9513, « D — 2°5', n D2 oo 1,47490, acid v. 3,7, 

 ester v. 14,8, soluble in 2 vols, and more of 70% alcohol. When placed 

 in a freezing mixture the oil solidified to a butter-like consistency as a 

 result of the separation of camphor. 



The two oils distilled in Eritrea behaved as follows: 



1. d 15O 0,9464, a D — 0°30', n D20 o 1,47176, acid v. 1,0, ester v. 11,8, 

 sol. in 2 vols. a. m. 70% alcohol. 



2. di 5 o 0,9526, a D — 1°, n D2 oo 1,47548, acid v. 5,6, ester v. 9,3, sol. in 

 1,8 vols. a.m. 70% alcohol. 



Neither sample possessed its full camphor-content, for in the pre- 

 paration of No. 1 part of the camphor had separated out during distilla- 

 tion in the condensing worm, while from No. 2 it had been partly ex- 

 tracted by freezing-out. In both cases, samples of the separated camphor 

 had been sent to us from Eritrea, and the substance was identified 

 more closely from its m. p. (176°), and its oxime (m. p. 118,5°). Optical 

 examination showed it to consist of the dextrorotatory modification. 



Santolina Oil. Santolina Chamcecyparissus, L, N. O. Composite, is a 

 native of Southern Europe, and is much cultivated as a garden-plant. It 

 is distinguished by its powerful, penetratingly aromatic odour. Formerly 

 it was official on account of its therapeutic properties, among others as 

 an antispasmodic and anthelmintic, and to this day it is used as a popular 

 remedy throughout its native region. A sample of the herb received from 

 Turin has been worked up by us for essential oil, of wich it yielded 0,47%. 

 The oil was of a dark-brown colour and in its odour reminded somewhat 

 of wormwood, or rather of tansy. d t5 o 0,9065; n D20 o 1,50040; acid v. 6,6; 

 ester v. 16,4; ester v. after acetyl. 74,2; opt. rot. impossible to determine 

 on account of the dark colour. The oil was soluble in 0,5 vols. a. m. 

 90% alcohol, with elimination of paraffin; insoluble in 80% alcohol. So 

 far no further particulars of its composition have been ascertained, but 

 judging from the odour, thujone appears to be one of the constituents. 



