- 
presumably have no practical value. The article further contains statistics the pro- 
duction and export of the most important essential oils. 
NOTES ON SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH. 67 
Occurrence of fragrant plants in Hawaii. 
In the same periodical, we find an article’) on the occurrence in Hawaii of a 
plant smelling like violets and which is called there either “Pakalang” or “Chinese 
violet”. Holmes presumes that this plant is Pergularia fragrantissima, an Asclepiadacea”). 
The aromatic principle of the flowers can be extracted by way of “enfleurage”’. In 
_addition, a plant referred to as “Mudlang’ is cultivated, which most likely is identical 
with the champaca shrub (Michelia Champaca). Acacia Farnesiana likewise occurs in 
Hawaii under the name of “Klw”’. E. V. Wilcox*) points out the possibility of using 
this plant for the manufacture of scents. 
Bibliography. 
The valuation of copaiba balsams is rendered rather difficult by the fact that 
almost nothing is known as to the properties and composition of genuine, unadulterated 
balsams. The products reaching Europe have, perhaps, been more or less sophisticated 
in the country of origin. An improvement of the conditions is to be expected only 
if chemists, perhaps together with botanists, personally. collect samples of South 
American balsams on the spot and determine the relative physical and chemical 
properties. Once it is known within what limits they oscillate in normal products, 
it will be possible to put the commerce of copaiba balsam on a sounder footing, 
which would surely contribute to secure a more frequent and successful use of the 
balsam and its oil than hitherto. In order to make a start in this direction, E. Deussen 
wrote a treatise*) under the title of Copaivabalsame und thre Verfdlschungen nebst den 
Anforderungen der wichtigsten Arzneibiicher an den offizinellen Copawabalsam (Balsams 
of Copaiba and their adulterations, along with the requirements of the most important 
pharmacopoeias concerning officinal balsam), which gives a complete summary of the 
copaiba balsam literature. He discusses first the South American copaiba balsams, 
then illurin balsam (so-called African Balsam), gurjun balsam, the wood oils from the 
Philippines, cedarwood oil, segura balsam, balsam of Hardwickia pinnata and lagam 
baisam. In the second part of his publication he deals with the principal working 
and testing methods and, in an appendix, mentions the requirements formulated by 
the principal pharmacopoeias for officinal copaiba balsam. 
K. Hassack gave a lecture on the production of natural and artificial aromatics, 
which he published later on in the form of a booklet’). 
W. Miller *®) reports on the progress in the domain of the chemistry. of the 
terpenes and aromatics, made from May 1913 to June 1914. A. Reclaire*) published 
reports of the progress in the domain of the terpene and essential oil chemistry in 
1912 and 1913 and of the progress in the domain of the essential oils and aromatics 
(July 1913 to August 1914). 
1) Perfum. Record 5 (1914), 130. — *) The Index Kewensis does not mention this species, but P. odora- 
tissima, Sm., probably indigenous in Further India and which is largely cultivated in East Asia and East 
India on account of its sweet smelling flowers. — *) Americ. Perfumer 9 (1914), 75. — 4) Leipzig, 1914; 
published by Winter’s Verlaysbuchhandlung. — *) Graz, 1914. Published by the K.k. Lehrmittelbureaus fiir 
kommerzielle Lehranstalten. From a copy kindly sent us. — %) Fortschritte der Chemie 10 (1914), 95, 183. — 
") Chem. Ztg. 83 (1914), 729, 770, 783, 874, 939. — Zeitschr. f. angew. Chem. 27 (1914), I, 572, 577. 
