78 Report of Schimmel $ Co. April 1913. 



Pastinac Oil. The circumstance that cases have repeatedly been reported of 

 persons who had collected pastinac (Pastinaca sativa, L.) having contracted acute 

 dermatitis of the hands 1 ), has induced A. Nestler 2 ) to make experiments upon his own 

 person in the toxicity of the plant, as well as of the closely-allied Pastinaca opaca, 

 Bernh., previous investigations into plants with an irritant action upon the skin having 

 convinced him that he himself is highly sensitive to dermatic poisons. Nestler placed 

 green leaves and parts of the stalks, as well as fruit of the plant upon sensitive places 

 of both arms. He also rubbed his body vigorously with the hairy leaves and stalks. 

 He further tried whether irritation could be produced with extracts with water, ether, 

 chloroform, or alcohol, but in no instance was any effect observable. 



Nestler was unable to discover the presence in the two pastinac species of any 

 secreting organs which might exude a skin-irritating substance. 



He regards it as not impossible that the cases of skin-affection after touching 

 pastinac plants which have so far become known, are not in any way due to the plant 

 itself, but may be caused by insects found on the plants, and he refers to the irritant 

 properties of certain mites and caterpillars. He is of opinion that no skin-irritating 

 action should be ascribed to pastinac until direct authentic experiments have proved 

 it to possess this property. 



Pennyroyal Oil. The reports to hand concerning the production in Algeria and 

 in Spain are not unfavourable, and it has therefore been possible to buy at some- 

 what cheaper rates. But the quantities which are being offered are not large and it 

 is therefore probable that the present prices will continue to rule. As already previ- 

 ously pointed out by us, however, the demand is very dragging. 



Peppermint Oil, American. We are able to add to the information concerning 

 American peppermint oil which appeared in our last Report the following particulars, 

 which we have received from our New York friends: — 



Speaking generally, the season of 1912 was in every respect disappointing. As 

 already previously stated, a good crop was at first expected, and the prices slowly 

 receded on account of the great extension of the area under peppermint. This applied 

 specially to the western and northern districts of Michigan where, owing to the favourable 

 condition of the snow, the plants had successfully weathered the winter of 1911—1912. 



In other districts, however, the weather had been the reverse of favourable. In 

 many places the fields were covered with ice, by which quantities of roots had been 

 injured, with the result that the farmers were put to the greatest possible trouble in 

 tyring to make good the damage by laying down new plantations, for it was taken 

 for granted that the oil would realise high prices. As already stated, the result of 

 this step was a very considerable extension of the plantations. 



At the beginning of the summer of 1912 the position was still favourable, and in 

 spite of heavy rainfalls which injuriously affected the crop, the results of the first 

 weeks' distilling were fairly satisfactory. After this, however, prolonged spells of 

 heavy rainfall ensued, in part attended by cloud-bursts, and within a brief period 

 damage had been done representing a loss in oil of about 20000 lbs. Thereupon the 

 farmers who had suffered most began to spread exaggerated reports and the prices 



x ) Prof. Zinsser of Cologne, had called Nestler's attention to the fact that it had been found at Miltitz 

 that persons who had collected pastinac for us had repeatedly suffered from acute dermatitis of the hands, 

 and had been compelled to stop their work. — 2 ) Berichte der deutsch. bot. Ges. 30 (1912), 581. 



