Scientific and other notes on essential oils. 19 



the fresh herb which had been gathered near Orlando (Orange county, Ha.) before 

 blossoming. Yield, 0.693 per cent. It has a light yellow colour and a pleasant, aromatic 

 odour. Constants: d 2 3o 0.8587; « D — 10° 48'; n D 1.4805; ester v. 6.35; ester v. after 

 acet. 25.3; easily soluble in 6 vol. of 90 per cent, alcohol; slightly turbid when dissolved 

 in 9 vol. 70 per cent, alcohol and more. The oil contained no phenols, but evidently 

 aldehydes (reaction with magenta-sulphurous acid). The main component is dipentene 

 which was identified by its tetrabromide melting at 124°; possibly the oil also contains 

 pinene, limonene, and esterified formic and acetic acids. 



Fennel Oil. We are without any news as to whether, in consequence of the 

 Russian invasion of the Bukowina and East Galicia, it will be possible to take up 

 fennel growing again in this district in the near future, as the distillers and buying 

 agents of the Skala district have been able to return only quite recently. Fennel oil 

 is not to be obtained anywhere, and the fennel seeds offered now and then from the 

 Lutzen district were far too expensive to be distilled. He who formerly employed 

 fennel oil must use anethole at present, which is still to be had in large quantities and 

 at acceptable prices. 



Geranium Oil. A sample of geranium oil submitted to us for examination may 

 also be mentioned at this point, in order to prove to our readers in what a villainous 

 fashion people are defrauded nowadays. The oil gave the following constants: 

 d^o 0.9573; « D + 1°; acid v. 12.0; ester v. 7.5; soluble in 1.5 vols, of 70 percent, 

 alcohol and showing opalescence in a dilution beyond about 6 vols. Quite apart 

 from the fact that the constants differ in a greater or lesser degree from normal ones, 

 the smell alone testified that the product had nothing whatever to do with geranium oil. 

 It was a resinous oil containing isopulegol, apparently consisting of residues, such as 

 are left over in the manufacture of citronella oil, and which at best was perfumed 

 with a little geranium oil. The prospective buyer was evidently quite right in 

 consulting us in advance about the quality of the oil, as he thereby saved himself 

 both loss and annoyance. 



Oil of Gum Ammoniac. The greater part of this substance which finds its way 

 into European trade comes from Persia and is extracted from the Umbellifera Dorema 

 Ammoniacum, Don., whereas Ferula communis var. brevifolia, Mariz. provides the Moroccan 

 and F. marmarica, Aschers. et Taub. the Cyrenian drug. Nothing was hitherto known 

 about the composition of this oil and it is only recently that P. Roenisch *) published 

 some particulars about it. The commercial oil (which we supplied) showed the following 

 properties: d 20 o 0.8855; « D + 1°42'; n D 1.47233. A combustion gave a yield of about 

 81 per cent, carbon and 12 per cent, hydrogen which indicated that the oil contained 

 considerable quantities of substances rich in oxygen. Nearly all of the already known 

 components of volatile oils contain less hydrogen, which led Roenisch to the con- 

 clusion that the oil contained hydrogenized sesquiterpene compounds, a supposition 

 which proved to be right. 



The oil boiled between 60 and 190° (10 mm.). The analyses of the fractions gave 

 higher figures for hydrogen the more the boiling point rose. Accordingly Roenisch 



x ) Investigation of oil of gum ammoniac and synthetic experiments with a view to elucidate its components. 

 Inaug.-Dissert., Breslau 1916. 



2* 



