86 Report of Schimmel $ Co. April 1913. 



The authors have as yet been unable to decide whether primverase is or is not a 

 new ferment. It is without doubt closely allied to, if not identical with, betulase, which 

 occurs in Betula lenta, Gaultheria procumbens, and Monotropa Hypopithys. The ferment 

 powder is obtained from the dried leaves of the calyx, the glucosides being removed 

 by extracting with alcohol and ether and the ferment being thus left behind in the 

 powdered leaves. Emulsin, invertin, the ferment of Aspergillus, and myrosin do not 

 react with the primula glucosides. On the other hand, hydrolytic decomposition occurs 

 with the ferments from Monotropa Hypopithys, Betula lenta, and Gaultheria procumbens 

 which are obtained by the method described for primverase. 



It is scarcely possible to give a definite answer to the question how the ferment 

 is distributed within the primula plant. In the root it is found chiefly in the tap-root; 

 in the parts above ground it occurs principally in the neighbourhood of the outer 

 vascular system, that is to say in the epidermic cells of the calyx, especially of the 

 petals. The glucosides are distributed throughout all parts of the plant. 



The ferment primverase is found widely distributed throughout the family of the 

 Primulacece. It has been detected in Primula elatior, P. Auricula, L., Samolus Valerandi, L., 

 Lysimachia vulgaris, L., L. nemorum, L., L. nummularia, L., Anagallis arvensis, L, Hottonia 

 palustris, L., Dodecatheon Meodia, L, Glaux maritima, L., and Cyclamen latifolium Sibth. 

 et Sm. The plants do not always contain the glucosides as well as the ferment. 



Not all the green roots of the Primula, when triturated in a mortar, give off an 

 odour of anise like those of Primula officinalis. But an aqueous solution of the extracts 

 invariably gives the characteristic colour-reaction with ferric chloride. 



The following species develop an anise -like odour: Primula Kewensis, Hort, 

 P. officinalis, Jaq., P. verticillata, Forsk., P. capitata, Hock., P. megaseifolia, Boiss., 

 P. Poissonii, Franck., P. cashemiriana, P. rosea, Boyle, P. mollis, Nutt. ex Hook., P. Forsterii, 

 Stein, and P. japonica, A. Grey. 



The following develop an odour of methyl- or amyl- salicylate: Primula longi- 

 fiora, All., P. frondosa, Janka, P. grandijiora, Lam., P. acaulis, Hill., P. cortusuoides, L., 

 P. obconica, Hance, and P. elatior, Hill. 



An odour of coriander is given off by Primula Auricula, L., P. pannonica, A. Kern 

 and P. Palinuri, Petagn. 



With Primula involucrata, Wall., no odour was observable. Lysimachia nemorum, L. 

 gave a faint odour of methyl salicylate, while the roots of Dodecatheon Meodia, L, when 

 triturated, develop an odour reminding of anise, and those of Anagallis arvensis, L, an 

 odour reminding of valerian. 



Oil of Rhus Cotinus. Under the name of ''Essence de Fustet", a small sample 

 of oil from the leaves and flowers of Rhus Cotinus, L., N. O. Anacardiacem, was recently 

 sent to us. The parent plant of this oil is the so-called Zante fustic to which we have 

 already briefly referred in our April Report of 1910, p. 92. The faintly palish yellow, 

 almost colourless oil had the not vejy characteristic odour of the terpenes; perhaps 

 reminding slightly of neroli. The small quantity at our disposal only allowed of a 

 superficial examination. The oil was found to possess the following constants: 

 d 15 o 0,8710, « D + 32°54', n D20O 1,4887, acid v. 0,9, ester v. 20,4, sol. in 6 vols. a. m. 

 90 p.c. alcohol. 



Distillation showed the oil to consist almost entirely of terpenes. When the 

 lowest-boiling fraction, b. p. 161 to 164° (d 150 0,8563) was tested for camphene with 

 glacial acetic-sulphuric acid, it afforded wobornylacetate, which upon saporrrfi cation 

 yielded woborneol. /^-pinene could not be traced with certainty in the fraction boiling 



