— 134 — ( 



(comparative experiments on the narcotic and disinfecting action of the 

 most frequently-used essential oils and of their active constituents) 1 ), and 

 to this work we desire briefly to refer. 



The principal outcome of Geinitz' investigations is the establishment 

 of the fact that the narcotic and disinfecting properties of the essential 

 oils do not correspond with those of the active constituents of those oils; 

 the sequence of the series differs widely. For example, Russian anise oil 

 and its active constituent, anethol, have no antiseptic action whatsoever, 

 but both have a pronounced narcotic action upon cold-blooded animals. 

 If would appear that the group which exerts an antiseptic action and that 

 which acts narcotically are not found in the same molecule of the odo- 

 riferous bodies; nay, in many of these substances one of the groups is 

 wanting altogether. It is also necessary to abandon the theory that narcosis 

 is determined simply by the great solubility of lipoid in the cells of the 

 nervous system, and that the antiseptic action of essential oils depends 

 upon solubility of the bacteria in the lipoids. The explanation of the 

 facts which have been observed is probably that the organism of the 

 bacteria with its peculiar metabolic process occupies in Nature a position 

 wholly for itself. For the results of narcotic experiments which have been 

 obtained with essential oils in the case of cold-blooded animals and in 

 that of the higher plants are altogether different from those which have 

 been obtained with bacteria. 



The results of narcotic experiments with fishes and tadpoles, of 

 respiration-experiments with toads, and of injection-experiments with frogs, 

 are reproduced in the form of tables arranged according to the degree 

 of activity of the essential oils. 



For the purpose of testing narcotic action on fishes, roach (Leuciscus 

 rutilus) were used. The limit of concentration taken was the dilution 

 which produced perceptible narcosis in the fish within a period of 24 hours, 

 that is to say,' a condition when the animal, without displaying much 

 spontaneous motion, floated in the water in an atactic condition and 

 altogether failed to respond to squeezing with hooked pincers. Only those 

 experiments were regarded as affording proof in which the fish recovered 

 when replaced in fresh water. 



For the purpose of estimating the antiseptic action, Geinitz added in 

 each case to 10 cc. fresh milk, placed in a test tube of 16 to 18 cc. capacity, 

 first as much Sulphur depuratum as would lie on the point of a knife, and 

 afterwards the antiseptic. After vigorous shaking a piece of filtering-paper 

 soaked with solution of lead acetate was hung up in the upper part of 

 the test-tube in such a way as not to come in contact with the milk, and 

 the test-tube was closed with a wad of cotton-wool. The tubes were then 



1 ) Copy from the Sitzungsberichte und Abhandlungen der naturforschendenfiesellsehaft zu 

 Rostock, New Series, Vol. IV, 1912. Rostock 1913. The paper was awarded a prize. 



