— 93 — 



oil. But the yield which these investigators obtained by treating the 

 non-pulverised resin with steam under pressure, was so small, that 

 the intended examination could not be carried out. Now recently 

 A. Tschirch, jointly with M. Wolff 1 ), has again taken up this 

 study. The oil obtained on distillation with steam in a yield of 1,3%, 

 was colourless, and had a pleasant odour. The bulk passed over 

 between 152 and 159 , and but a small portion distilled only between 

 260 and 280 . No further details are given with regard to the 

 physical constants of the essential oil. 



Sassafras Oil. With a brisk demand, and supported by the 

 high prices of safrol, the quotations have advanced slowly. In view of the 

 higher cost of labour in the producing districts, and the increase in the 

 price of the raw material the present value appears to us to be justified. 



Savin Oil. In consequence of the note contained in our last 

 Report 2 ), that the oil of Juniperus thurifera var. gallica De Coincy 

 might possibly also be used as a substitute or for the adulteration 

 of genuine savin oil, Professor Dr. P. Guigues, of Beyrout (Syria), was 

 kind enough to call our attention to a study 3 ) from his hand on this 

 species of Juniperus. Unfortunately we are unable to enter in detail 

 into this very interesting study, at it is a work of purely botanical 

 character and consequently lies outside the scope of these Reports. 

 According to the observations of Professor Guigues, who has also 

 worked up the plant material for oil, it possesses a toxic action, which 

 manifested itself, for example in the persons occupied in the distil- 

 lation, in severe diuresis. 



Professor Guigues kindly sent us at our request the sample of 

 this oil which was still in his possession; but its quantity was so 

 small (about 1,5 cc.) that it is impossible to form an opinion on the 

 oil. It had a yellowish colour and a pleasant aromatic odour, which, 

 however, had only a faint savin character. The specific gravity which 

 we ascertained as 0,9246 (15 ) agreed with that of genuine oil of 

 savin, but the rotation was very considerably lower and only amounted 

 to between -\-i and -f-2 . 



We avail ourselves of this opportunity to express our sincere 

 thanks to Professor Guigues for his kind attention towards us. 



From a further work on the same subject, originating from 

 E. Perrot and Mongin 4 ), which has also a purely botanical con- 



*) Arch, der Pharm. 244 (1906), 709. 



2 ) Report October 1906, 72. 



3 ) P. Guigues, Une foret de Sabines dans les Hautes-Alpes. Bull, des 

 Sciences pharmacologiques, No. 2, February 1902, 33. 



4 ) A propos de la Sabine et des especes botaniques de Juniperus fournissant 

 la drogue commerciale. Bull, des Sciences pharmacologiques, No. 2, February 1902, 38. 

 According to a reprint kindly sent to us by Professor Perrot. 



