f — 113 - 



alcohol, at first clear, but from 2,5 vols, upwards cloudy. Roots from the 

 Seychelles afforded a total yield of 0,482 p. c. oil, of which 0,072 p. c. had 

 been separated out from the distillation waters. The test of that part of 

 the oil which had been obtained by direct distillation (0,41 p. a), gave 

 the following result: di 5 o 1,0282, « D 2oo+27°, acid v. 55,9, ester v. 11,4, 

 sap. v. 67,3; sol. in its own vol. 80 p. c. alcohol and more. The colour 

 of the oil was a deep golden brown; the consistency was viscous. The 

 oil recovered from the waters of distillation showed similar properties, but 

 its odour was somewhat fainter than that of the principal oil. 



Wallflower seed Oil. According to M. Matthes and W. Boltze 1 ), the 

 seed of wallflowers contains 0,0073 p. c. of a colourless essential oil, with an 

 odour reminding of water-fennel. B. p. 120 to 125° (15 mm.); di 5 o 0,9034; 

 [«] D — 12,73°; n D20O 1,6920. The oil immediately discolours potassium 

 permanganate and bromine. Combustion gave 85,68 p. c. carbon and 

 11,56 p. c. hydrogen. 



We have already on a previous occasion 2 ) referred to the presence 

 in wallflower seed of a sulphide: cheirolin. 



Wintergreen Oil, American. No alteration can be reported in the 

 position of this article. According to the reports from our branch-house 

 there is no lack of pure oil, and the market shows a certain tendency 

 towards easing off. We have already taken account of this weakness in 

 our quotations. Oil from Gaultheria procumbens also, which, as is well- 

 known, is only esteemed in the United States, is abundantly available. 



Wormseed Oil, American. The high prices have had the result of 

 considerably increasing the production within the last three years. Our 

 New York branch has ascertained that the area under wormseed in 1910 

 amounted to about 90 acres and in 1911 to about 170 acres, while for 

 the present year the area under cultivation may be put at 225 acres. The 

 oil-output in 1910 was 2800 lbs. and in 1911, 5000 lbs., and it is therefore 

 probable that it may reach 6700 lbs. this year. As there is also some 

 stock of old oil left over in the hands of middlemen it is thought that 

 lower prices may be anticipated. We do not believe that there will be a 

 fall in prices worth mentioning, for owing to the well-established thera- 

 peutic efficacy of the oil the demand for it is steadily increasing. 



Both E. K. Nelson 3 ) and O. Wallach 4 ) where engaged last year, almost 

 simultaneously, in investigating the structure of ascaridol 5 ), which was 

 discovered by us as a constituent of American wormseed oil. As appears 



*) Arch, der Pharm. 250 (1912), 217. 



2 ) Comp. Report October 1910, 85. 



3 ) Comp. Report October 1911, 98. 



4 ) Liebigs Annalen 392 (1912), 59. 



5 ) Report April 1908, 109. 



