- 9 8 - 



the N. O. Labia tee and is a native of Mexico, was pale yellow and 

 had an odour resembling that of mint; di 5 o 0,9182, a D _|_6°5i', 

 n D2o° 'M6852, acid no. 15,6, ester no. 10,3, ester no. after acetyl- 

 ation 37,9. The oil is soluble in any proportion of 90 per cent, 

 alcohol, also in 3 vols, of 70 per cent, or 1,2 vol. of 80 per cent, 

 alcohol, but opalescence ensues with the last two when more of the 

 solvent is added. The odour points to the presence of pulegone. 



Oil from the Mexican Marsh-cy press (Taxodinm mexicanum 

 Carr., 7. Montezumae Decne., T. mucronatum Ten.). This tree, which 

 belongs to the conifers and is known in Mexico as "Sabino", grows 

 in that country at altitudes of from 5600 to 7000 ft. It is not 

 distributed over a very wide area, but where it does grow it forms 

 large forests. *) The oil, which had probably been distilled from the 

 leaves, was of a pale brown colour and somewhat resembled, in its 

 odour, oil of turpentine, to which it is probably also closely allied in 

 its composition. di 5 o 0,8685, «d — io°2o', n D20° 1*46931, acid no. 

 0,5, ester no. 5,7; soluble in 5,4 vols, and more of 90 per cent, alcohol. 



Oil of Artemisia Herba-alba var. densiflora Bois (Chieh 

 Oil). From Egypt we received, for the purpose of examining it for 

 essential oil, a herb which is known there by the name of "Chieh", 

 and which occurs on the high limestone plateaus of Egypt and Tripoli 

 and probably also in Arabia. The plant is said to reach its full 

 development early in March and to flourish particularly in rainy years. 

 The Arabs and Tuaregs employ a decoction of the herb medicinally 

 as an emollient and diuretic. Owing to the sample sent to us being 

 imperfect, great difficulty was experienced in determining its botanical 

 name. Prof. Heckel, of Marseilles, who kindly examined the sample 

 for us, and to whom we owe thanks for his courteous assistance, in- 

 formed us under reserve that the herb was probably an Artemisia 

 Herba-alba. This opinion was confirmed on further investigation when 

 a few specimens which had been carefully pressed between paper were 

 sent to us. Dr. Giessler, "Custos" at the Botanical Institute of the 

 University of Leipzig, was able to ascertain that the sample represented 

 a variety of the above-mentioned plant, viz., A. Herba-alba var. den- 

 siflora Bois. 



By water vapour we obtained from it a yield of i,6°/ of a 

 yellowish oil, with a clear odour of thujone, which upon examination 

 gave the following results: di 5 o 0,9192, a D — 5° 20', n D20O 1,45611, 

 acid. no. 1,5, ester no. 11,0, ester no. after acetylation 40,7, soluble 



*) The famous "Cypress of Montezuma" in the cemetery of Santa Maria del 

 Tule near Oaxaca belongs to the same variety. It is said to be 130 ft. high, the trunk 

 to have a circumference of 98 ft. De Can do lie estimated its age at 6000 years, 

 Humboldt at 4000. 



