126 



has, according to our experience, a satisfactory action and appears to 

 answer its purpose. 



We read in the Diplomatic and Consular Report 1 ) on Belgium, 

 issued by the British Government, that wintergreen oil and eucalyptus 

 oil (from E. Globulus) have recently also been used with good results, 

 besides male fern, as prophylactics against worm-disease of the 

 miners in that country. The remedy is administered in the following 

 form: wintergreen oil 4 g., chloroform 3 g., castor oil 40 g.; or eucalyptus 

 oil 2 g\, chloroform 3 g., castor oil 40 g. 



With regard to the pharmacological and physiological action of 

 ylang ylang oil, comp. what is said under that heading, p. 104. 



Phytophysiological notes. 



Roure-Bertrand Fils 2 ) have recently extended their experiments 

 on the formation and distribution of the essential oil and the terpene 

 compounds in the various organs of the plants, — to which we have 

 already repeatedly called attention 3 ), — also to a perennial plant, which, 

 in addition to compounds of an alcoholic character, also contains 

 an aldehyde. A suitable experimential plant was found in Verbe?ia 

 triphylla L., the oil of which had already been examined formerly 4 ) for 

 its constituents by the firm in question. In the case of Verbena also, 

 the fact previously observed is confirmed, that a migration of odoriferous 

 substances takes place from the leaf to the inflorescence. Further, 

 the quantity of essential oil occurring in the twigs carrying blossoms, 

 is proportionate to the quantity of oil present in the stem. It would, 

 therefore, appeart hat the leaf, in which the odorous substances originate, 

 is connected canal-like with the blossom in which they are again partly 

 consumed. 



The examination of the constituents of the oil of the various organs 

 of the plant showed that the oil of the inflorescences contains more 

 citral than the oil of the leaves. The mechanism of the formation 

 of odoriferous substances in Verbena is consequently dependent in the 

 first place on the partial esterification of the geraniol formed in the 

 green parts of the plant, and its simultaneous oxidation into citral. 

 The comparatively readily soluble substances formed in this manner 

 diffuse in the inflorescences, in which therefore also a more readily 



1 ) Diplomatic and Consular Reports. Miscellaneous Series. No. 656. Belgium. 

 February 1907. 



2 ) Berichte von Roure-Bertrand Fils, October 1906, 1. 

 8 ) Our Reports April 1906, 105; October 1906, 106. 



4 ) Berichte von Roure-Bertrand Fils, April 1906, 38; comp. our 

 Reports October 1900, 64; April 1903, 76; October 1906, 80. 



