Scientific and other Notes on Essential Oils. 
Oil of ‘Anise. The favourable results obtained with essential oils in the treatment 
~ of lice-infested clothes have led to experiments being carried out as regards the treat- 
_ ment of itch. It was found that for this complaint the best remedy was. anise oil. 
_ A. Parutz*) recommends application of the oil in the form of an ointment (ol. anisi 1.0, | 
vaseline ad 100.0). Patients should rub the ointment all over the body, more especially 
- into the places exposed to itch such as the inner side of the joints, between the 
ge 
3 fingers, in the armpits, around the sacrum, §c. Even after the first inunction the 
itching sensation is said to cease, after four inunctions the subjective symptoms 
_ disappear and the cure is complete. It is, however, advisable that a fifth application 
_ of the ointment should be made. A warm bath the day after every treatment is indicated. 
_ Oil of Sweet Basil. V. Lubimenko and M. Novikoff*) have attempted to ascertain 
_ in how far the formation of essential oil in the plant is influenced by different intensities 
of light. For this purpose they carried out a few shading experiments on sweet basil — 
(Ocimum basilicum, L., N.O. Labiate). The experimental field had a southern exposure — 
and consisted of four equal parts, one of which remained uncovered while the others ~ 
had horizontal cloth shades stretched above them at a height of one meter from the 
soil. The texture of the cloth varied with each plot and was such that the threads 
only represented 10, 25 and 50 per cent. of the surface respectively. When the plants 
were in full bloom they were distilled in a current of steam, when it was found that 
the percentage of water in the plants was increased by increased shading and that 
the stems aiso were longer. The greatest growth was observed with 10 per cent. 
shading; where the shading was 50 per cent. the development of the plant was seriously 
affected. The production of essential oil appeared to be best in the field subjected to 
10 per Eas Shetie. | | : 
Oil of Bay. H.A.Tempany and W. Robson®) consider it desirable that a central 
place for the distillation of bay oii should be erected in the West Indies, so as to 
render it possible to secure uniformity in quality. To this end the central eis 
should be under competent control. 
As regards the possibility of increasing consumption of bay oil, the English con- 
y temporary, from whic ch we cull these notes, seems to be rather optimistic. Nothing 
definite is known about the total output of the West Indies. The United States import 
about 2000 Ibs. annually and in Great Britain about 4000 to 5000 Ibs. are handled every ~ 
E -year, part of which appears to be re-exported from the United States. It is hoped 
that with reguiar supplies of even quality, and at a somewhat lower price new markets 
could be found for bay oil which, so far, was used almost exclusively for the pro- 
duction of bay rum. 
7) Wiener klin. Wochenschr. 1915, No. 37; Vierteljahrsschr. f. prakt. Pharm. 12 (1915), 352. — 2) From a 
reference in the Americ. Perfumer 10 (1915), 265. It does not appear from the paper in question where the 
Original treatise was published. — #) Journ. Imp. Agric. Dept. for the West Indies; Perfum. Record 7 (1916), 209. 
Fa 
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