— 14 — 



phthalic acid anhydride according to Haller's method 1 ), yielded a 

 small quantity of an alcohol which has not yet been examined further. 

 From the saponification liquor of the oil, after adding sulphuric acid, 

 a fatty acid mixture was separated, which, according to the analysis 

 of the silver salt, contained caprinic or caprylic acid. 



Basil Oil. We have just received a small parcel of Reunion 

 oil of quite exceptional quality. We understand that this distillate is 

 used with advantage in mignonette-perfume compositions. It is extra- 

 ordinarily rich. 



In the essential oil of a species of basil (Ocirnum Basilicum L.), 

 P. van Romburgh 2 ) has detected, in addition to considerable quanti- 

 ties eugenol, a new olefinic terpene C 10 H 16 , ocimene. As an olefinic 

 terpene, ocimene has a great resemblance to myrcene, the hitherto 

 best-examined representative of this class of bodies. Like myrcene, 

 ocimene is capable of absorbing oxygen, whereby it is converted into 

 a colourless viscid substance. In its physical properties ocimene differs 

 in a marked degree from myrcene, so that the two hydrocarbons cannot 

 be regarded as identic. C. J. Enklaar, who has again taken up the 

 examination of ocimene in the Utrecht laboratory, obtained by reduction 

 with sodium in alcoholic solution, a dihydro ocimene which yields 

 a crystallised bromine addition product, and which does not agree 

 in specific gravity with the dihydro myrcene obtained by Semmler 

 by reduction of myrcene. 



Bay Oil. Two bay oils originating from Dominica, for which 

 we are indebted to the kindness of Sir Daniel Morris, Imperial 

 Commissioner of Agriculture in Barbados (W. I.), appear to point to 

 the fact that the distillation there is not yet carried out with sufficient 

 care, as the two oils were of abnormal character, and this can hardly 

 be attributed to the Dominica bay-leaves, of which the excellent quality 

 is well known. 



The oils obtained from different manufacturers had the following 

 properties: — 



i. d 15 o 0,9500; phenol-content 55%; soluble in 0,5 vol. 90 per cent, 

 alcohol, cloudiness when more solvent was added. 



2. d 15 o 1,0198; phenol-content 73%) soluble in 0,3 vol. 90 and 

 95 per cent, alcohol, in both cases strong cloudiness when more alcohol 

 was added. The dark-brown oil had the consistency of a viscid fatty 

 oil, and differs considerably in point of odour from ordinary bay oil, 



*) Compt. rend. 108 (1888), 1308; 122 (1896), 865. 



2 ) Koninklyke Akademie van Wetenschappen te Amsterdam. Reprinted from 

 Proceed, of the Meeting of Saturday, March 19, 1904. (April 19, 1904). 



