_ 9 6 - 



water is added, the semicarbazone is precipitated as a white, solid 

 mass, which melts after repeated recrystallisation from alcohol at 133 

 to 1 3 4°. The muskone semicarbazone crystallises in fine, white prisms, 

 which are absolutely odourless. If a trace of it is heated with dilute 

 sulphuric acid, a powerful pure musk-odour soon proclaims that muskone 

 has been split off. The analysis of the semicarbazone gave values on 

 combustion, from which either the formula C 16 H 31 ON 3 or C 17 H 33 ON 3 

 can be calculated. Muskone has consequently either the composition 

 C 15 H 28 0, or C 16 H 30 O. 



We are at this moment still occupied with the further examination 

 of muskone, and hope to report on this at a later date. 



The question whether the natural odoriferous substance of musk 

 is identical with the so-called "artificial musk Baur" (trinitro-isobutyl 

 toluenel and homologues), which is frequently used as a substitute for 

 musk, or with one of its various derivatives, has therefore been brought 

 to a decision by the isolation of muskone. The "artificial musk" has 

 nothing to do with muskone. 



With regard to the remaining odoriferous substances of the musk- 

 secretion, they impair by their penetrating, most unpleasant odour 

 the fine muskone-odour to such an extent, that in the musk it cannot 

 be appreciated at its full value. The examination of these compounds, 

 which are partly of a basic character, has not yet been concluded. 



Orris-root, powdered. Since the prices of Florentine roots have 

 advanced about 12 marks per 100 kilos, and this rise appears to be 

 permanent, we have been compelled to increase our quotations for 

 the well-known fine powder for the present by 10 marks. For the 

 rest we beg to refer to what we have said on this subject under the 

 article "Orris Oil". 



Peru Balsam. According to Tschirch 1 ) the so-called white 

 Peru balsam of Honduras differs considerably from the genuine white 

 Peru balsam obtained from the fruit of Myroxylon Pereirae. It contains, 

 besides free cinnamic acid, a solid resin ester of cinnamic acid, and 

 .a mixture of liquid resin ester of cinnamic acid with alcohols, which 

 still require further identification. Tschirch considers that the white 

 Peru balsam examined by Thorns and Biltz 2 ) is not genuine, as it 

 contained free cinnamic acid and cinnamic acid ester of cinnamon 

 alcohol and phenylpropyl alcohol; the genuine balsam does not contain 

 cinnamic acid at all, but on the other hand coumarin. 



*) Schweiz. Wochenschr. f. Chem. u. Pharm. 43 (1905), 238. According to 

 Pharm. Centralh. 46 (1905), 803. 



2 ) Zeitschr. d. allg. Oesterr. Apoth. Ver. 58 (1904), 943. Comp. Report April 

 1905, 119. 



