— 47 — 



exhausting the ethereal solution of the myrrh with one per cent, 

 potash liquor, then washing with water, and after driving off the ether, 

 distilling the residue with water vapour. The oil obtained had a 

 honey-yellow colour, and was fairly viscid; it had a specific gravity 

 of 1,046 and resinified readily. When exposed to the light, the oil 

 quickly acquired a reddish-brown colour. From the residue of the 

 steam distillation, the authors were able, after adding 1 °/ 00 potassium 

 hydrate to obtain by further distillation another i 1 /2°/o of a secondary 

 essential oil. Tschirch and Bergmann further determined the follow- 

 ing constituents of myrrh: — a- and /?-herabo-myrrholol, a- and /?- 

 herabo-myrrhol, heraboresene, a gum and an enzyme. 



Myrtle Oil. In the higher boiling portions of myrtle oil, 

 H. v. So den and Fr. Elze 1 ) have discovered a new alcohol of the 

 formula C 10 H 18 O, which they have designated myrtenol. Myrtenol, 

 which occurs in the oil chiefly as acetic ester, was obtained by 

 saponification of the ester fraction with alcoholic potash liquor. By 

 conversion into the phthalic ester acid melting at 1 1 6°, the myrtenol 

 could be separated from admixtures of other alcohols, for example 

 geraniol. From the phthalic ester acid, the new alcohol is obtained 

 as a viscid, colourless oil with the odour of myrtle. Boiling point 

 220 to 221 (751 mm. pressure); 79,5 to 8o° (3,5 mm. pressure); 

 diso 0,985; «p -j-49°2 5'. Myrtenol can be acetylised quantitatively, 

 and appears to be a primary cyclic terpene alcohol. 



Nepeta Oil. A Sicilian nepeta oil, whose more exact origin 

 could not be determined, has been examined by Umney and 

 Bennett 2 ). Its constants were di 6 ° 0,927, « D — (— 1 2 ; total alcohol 

 content (menthol) 22,2 °/ ; ester content (menthyl acetate) 3,3 °/ ; soluble 

 in 2 vol. 70 per cent, alcohol. Small quantities of a ketone, possibly 

 menthone or pulegone, appeared to be contained in the oil. 



Neroli Oil. The most recent information on the prospects of 

 the harvest of orange-blossoms in the South of France, which 

 commences next month, are very unfavourable. The frost of the 

 last days of March is said to have destroyed half the blossoms. The 

 high prices may consequently continue in force. It is an undeniable 

 fact that these high prices have greatly interfered with the sale of the 

 natural oil, and have in many cases led to the introduction of the 

 artificial oil which is now produced in such a high degree of per- 

 fection. Although under normal conditions of value the two oils may 

 go alongside each other, when the difference is so enormous as last 

 year, it becomes a matter of necessity for many to make use of the 

 advantages which the artificial product offers. 



x ) Chem. Ztg. 29 (1905), 1031. 



2 ) Pharm. Journal 75 (1905), 861; Chemist and Druggist 67 (1905), 970. 



