— 132 — 



these figures it should be stated that we examined, of the Barreme oil, 

 first the distillate which had separated out directly in the receiver, next 

 the oil obtained by extracting the distillation-water with ether, and lastly 

 the total oil as represented by pouring together the two fractions. 



It will be noticed that there are certain differences between the Miltitz 

 and the Barreme oils, chiefly expressed in the optical behaviour. 



Oil of Watermint. According to K. Irk^t Hungarian oil of Mentha 

 aquatica possesses the following constants: d^ 0,9603, « D20 o + 22,73°, 

 n D 2oo 1,4900, sol. in 0,5 vols, of 90°/o alcohol. The oil is of a dark straw 

 colour and possesses an agreeable odour reminding of pennyroyal. In its 

 constants the oil shows a marked difference from an oil from Spanish 

 herb described by Schimmel S Co. 2 ). 



Wintergreen Oil, Indian. From 3,3 kilos of the leaves and stalks of 

 Gaultheria punctata, Bl. (G. fragrantissima, Wall., comp. our last Report, p. 96) 

 there was obtained at Buitenzorg 3 ) 23 cc. of oil with a density of d 26 o 1,175, 

 « D + 0°; sap. v. 234 (after 1 hour), 289 (after 2 hours), 357 (after 3 hours), 

 360,6 (after 4 hours), corresponding to 97,9 °/o methyl salicylate. 



The leaves and stalks of Gaultheria leucocarpa, Bl. (880 grams) have 

 also been distilled, yielding 3 cc. oil. Sap. v. after 2 hours 332. 



Wormseed Oil, American. American wormseed oil still remains 

 scarce and dear and appears inclined at the very least to maintain its 

 present level of value. 



Our New York branch reports that it is extremely difficult to procure 

 trustworthy data concerning the crop from the growing districts in Mary- 

 land, but the result is estimated not to exceed one-half of the average of 

 previous years. 



Wormwood Oil. Our New York friends report that the result of the 

 American crop has fallen far below the original estimate and that, owing 

 to the unfavourable climatic conditions, the contracts for delivery which 

 had been concluded before the beginning of the distilling season have 

 only been carried out to the extent of about 50 per cent. The prices 

 have remained at their previous level, and would certainly have advanced 

 considerably if the demand had not given way to an appreciable extent. 

 This last statement is confirmed by our own experience of the American 

 wormwood oil trade. This stagnation in the demand is doubtless in part 

 attributable to the fact that in the European market the German worm- 

 wood oil distilled by ourselves is so popular that it would be preferred 



x ) Kiserletiigyi Kozlemenyek 14 (1911). From a reprint kindly sent to us. Also see 

 Pharm. Zentralh. 52 (1911), 1111. 



2 ) Schimmel's Bericht, October 1889, 55; Gildemeister and Hoffmann, The Volatile 

 Oils. p. 654. 



3 ) Jaarb. dep. landb. in Ned.-Indie, Batavia 1910, 47. 



