— 152 — 



(edited after the author's death by Dr. M. Greshoff), contains prin- 

 cipally a list of all the popular names (so far as they are known), in 

 the native languages of the plants of the Dutch-Indies. With every 

 name there is a reference to an alphabetical register of the scientific 

 denominations, the latter containing in each case, in addition to the 

 native names, interesting botanical, ethnographical and medicinal de- 

 tails, even gastronomical and other curiosities. It is very evident 

 from the mass of facts presented that the natives possess keen powers 

 of observation for the flora which surrounds them. 



New continuations have appeared of the monographs by I.W. Brandel x ) 

 on the publications in the domain of essential oils. These continuations 

 deal with the progress made in the years 1 90 1 to 1 903 2 ). The work 

 has been referred to by us on several occasions. 



Analytical Notes. 



For the volumetric estimation of constituents of oils, such as 

 eugenol, thymol and cinnamic aldehyde, F. X. Moerk 3 ) recommends the 

 use of the centrifugal apparatus, by which the troublesome adhesion 

 of oil to the sides of the vessel is avoided, and a better separation 

 of the undissolved oil is obtained. In his experiments, Moerk used 

 a Babcock milk and cream bottle. After being extracted the mixture 

 was centrifugalised. At from 800 to 1000 revolutions per minute the 

 separation of the oil from the aqueous solution was completed in from 

 8 to 10 minutes. Moerk experimented with oils of clove, pimento, 

 thyme, and cassia, and also carried out comparative tests exactly as 

 laid down by the U. S. Pharmacopoeia. 



It was remarkable that, without exception, all the determinations 

 made with the centrifugal machine gave higher values than the other, 

 while, owing to the more thorough separation of the oil from the 

 aqueous solution, the reverse might have been expected. It is true that 

 no proof can be given of the accuracy of the figures, for, apart from the 

 use of the centrifugal machine, Moerk's other tests have not been made 

 under equal conditions. For the cinnamic aldehyde determination he 

 used in one case a solution of neutral sulphite, but for the comparative 

 tests carried out according to the U. S. Ph. he employed a bisulphite 

 solution. In the latter case he found over 5% less of aldehyde. In 

 comparative tests we ourselves have only very rarely been able to 

 ascertain differences exceeding 2 °/ , but we have always obtained 

 the higher values with bisulphite. 



*) The Midland Drugg. and Pharm. Review 43 (1909), no, 248, 326. 



2 ) Report April 1908, 168; November 1908, 155; April 1909, no. 



3 ) Americ. Journ. Pharm. 81 (1909), 327. 



