_ 9 8 - 



We would once more emphasize the fact that the "artifical musk" 

 met with in commerce is not identical with muskone, but that in this 

 case (as may frequently be observed) there exists only a certain 

 similarity in the odours of two entirely different bodies. For 

 muskone, according to our recent researches, the second of the two 

 formulae C 15 H 28 and C 16 H 30 O is the more probable one. By 

 reducing and oxidising muskone, we have already obtained further 

 data on the subject, but we reserve the details of this work for a later 

 communication. 



As according to Berthelot's estimates 0,00000000000000001 g. 

 and according to others even smaller quantities of musk are perceptible to 

 the sense of smell, but as on the aggregate condition of evaporated musk 

 different opinions are still held, J. Aitken 1 ) has endeavoured to decide 

 experimentally whether a conversion into gas or vapour takes place, or a 

 separation of solid particles. Dust- free moist air was subjected to slight 

 expansions, in which particles possibly present would act as nuclei and 

 cause condensation. As the musk evaporating on condensation of such 

 air had not added to the filtered dust-free air any particle of a larger 

 than molecular size, the conclusion could be drawn that the aggregate 

 condition of evaporating particles of musk is of a gaseous character. 

 According to the same method, the author next examined a large 

 number of other odorous substances; here also, no solid, but only 

 gaseous particles could be found. In further support of the theory 

 that the evaporation of odorous substances depends upon an evolution 

 of gases, Aitken mentions the fact that odorous substances, 

 brought into contact with the mucous membrane of the nose in the 

 form of very fine powders, produce a totally different impression than 

 the act of smelling the same substances. Almost all such very fine 

 powders produce on the mucous membrane direct the same sensation, 

 although their actual odour may differ in a marked degree. 



Pollantin. Although the sales of this remedy against hay -fever 

 did not quite come up to our expectations this year, owing to the 

 rainy weather during the flowering season of the gramineae, we had 

 the satisfaction that this medicament has again during the past season 

 proved efficacious. This applies in a very special degree to the United 

 Kingdom, the classical country of the hay-fever; from patients there 

 we have almost without exception received very good reports of cures, 

 which are partly couched in the most flattering terms, and cannot 

 sufficiently praise the "almost miraculous prompt action of the remedy" 

 — whether in the form of powder or in the liquid state. 



*) Proceed, of the Royal Society of Edinburgh 25 (190$), 894. Ace. to 

 Naturwissenschaftliche Rundschau 21 (1906), 98. 



