- 124 - 



Finally, Group 5 consists of oils which have no effect upon the 

 seedlings. These are oil of cloves, vetiver, and patchouli. 



In our last Report we pointed out that the lactone xanthotoxin 1 ) is 

 a fish-poison. According to H. Priess 2 ), who has thoroughly studied the 

 toxic action of xanthotoxin, this property appears to be common to many 

 lactones. Coumarin, for instance, in aqueous neutral and in faintly acid 

 solution, has considerable activity as an agent for narcotising fish. 



J. A. Gardner and W. L. Symes 3 ) have investigated the physiological 

 action of «- and /?-camphene phosphonic acid 4 ). The examination showed 

 the physiological behaviour of the two acids to be almost identical, both 

 acting more intensely than sodium orthophosphate and less intensely than 

 sodium pyrophosphate. They particularly affect the central nerve-system. 

 They reduce the pressure of the blood, produce excitement v/hen given 

 hypodermically and when given in sufficiently large doses cause death, 

 preceded by unconsciousness. The slightness of the physiological action 

 is due to the fact that camphene phosphonic acids are very rapidly elimi- 

 nated by the organism. 



On the abortive action of oil of Asarum europceum, see p. 21. 



On the treatment of pulmonary phthisis with oil of cloves, see p. 39. 



On a case of poisoning with eucalyptus oil, see p. 49. 



On the disinfecting action of menthol, see p. 113. 



On the treatment of tuberculous ulcers with niaouli oil, see p. 62. 



On a case of poisoning by sassafras oil, see p. 84. 



On the pharmacological action of American wormseed oil, see p. 100. 



PhytO'physiological Notes. 



According to Sack 5 ), indole occurs in the perfume of the flowers of 

 Citrus Aurantium, L.; C. decumana, L; C.japonica; C. Limonum, Risso; C. no- 

 bilis, Lour., and C. trifoliata. The presence of the base was shown both 

 by Verschaffelt's ) method and by that given by Weehuizen 7 ). Indole was 



x ) Report April 1911, 73. See the present Report, p. 50. 



2 ) Berichte d. deutsch. pharm. Ges. 21 (1911), 267. 



3 ) Bio-Chemical Journal 5 (1910), 390. From a reprint kindly sent to us. 

 *) Comp. Report April 1891, 70. 



5 ) Pharm. Weekblad 48 (1911), No. 13. Quoted from Apotheker Ztg. 26 (1911), 302. 



6 ) Comp. Report October 1905, 123. 



7 ) Comp. Report April 1909, 140. 



