— 123 — 



obtained upon a previous occasion by recrystallising from methyl alcohol, 

 and from the mother-liquor they obtained an isomeric trimeride, 

 m. p. 144 to 145°. 



Cinnamic aldehyde, after having been exposed to light in a glass 

 tube for twelve months, formed a brown, transparent resinous mass, from 

 which a polymeride consisting of a white resinous mass, m. p. 115° (after 

 previously dripping together at 103°) could be isolated. Determination 

 of the molecular weight produced no uniform results; values were obtained 

 fluctuating, according to the solvent, between (C 9 H 8 0)4, (C 9 H 8 0) 5 and 

 <C 9 H 8 O) 10 . 



H. Malosse 1 ) has determined the specific rotation of camphor dissol- 

 ved in acetone. With a concentration of 40,7413% the values are 

 MD13.70 + 50,549°; the rotation is at its minimum with a percentage of 

 8,4604 ([«] DUl3 o + 48,709°) and gradually increases to [«] D25 , 2 o + 50,070° 

 with a percentage of 1,0684. 



On the equilibrium benzaldehyde + hydrocyanic acid ^ > benzaldehyde 

 cyanohydrin, see p. 19. 



Pharmacophysiological Notes. 



In our last Report 2 ) we commented upon a paper by Coupin on the 

 influence of certain volatile bodies upon the development of germinating 

 grains of cereals. Since then the author 3 ) has extended his investigations 

 over a series of essential oils, and has come to the conclusion that these 

 oils may be divided into five groups. 



Group 1 consists of oils which immediately destroy the young plants, 

 viz., oils of niaouli, star anise, and Russian and French anise. 



Group 2 comprises those oils which only kill the plants after a certain 

 time, viz., oils of thyme, wild thyme, sassafras, lavender, wormwood, spike, 

 bergamot, neroli, juniper berries, spiraea, mace, tansy, and rosemary. 



Group 3 embraces the oils which retard the development of the plants 

 and cause them to become more or less withered, viz., oil of cedro, verbena, 

 Ceylon cinnamon, cajuput, sweet fennel, cassia, ylang-ylang, Chione glabra, 

 mandarin, coriander, hyssop, sage, chamomile, eucalyptus, rose (Turkish), 

 wintergreen, balm, peppermint; (Paris), peppermint (American), geranium 

 (French), angelica, caraway, and bitter orange. 



Group 4 contains the oils which retard the growth of the plants, viz., 

 oil of citronella, bitter fennel, cumin, sweet orange (Calabrian), origanum, 

 E. I. sandalwood, and orris. 



*) Compt. rend. 153 (1911), 56. 



2 ) Report April 1911, 160. 



3 ) Compt. rend. 152 (1911), 529. 



