Antiseptic Action of Some Aromatic Fumes. 69 



odoriferous substances to destructive dry distillation by heat and 

 studied the effects of the fumes produced thereby on bacterial 

 cultures. The following substances were investigated; gum oli- 

 banum, gum glabanum, storax, myrrh, saffron, cinnamon, ben- 

 zoinum and various samples of domestic and Japanese incense. 

 The various substances were heated in glass test tubes over a flame 

 and the fumes were allowed to come in contact with various 

 microorganisms, care being taken to exclude the germicidal effects 

 of steam. The bacteria studied were: B. coli, and B. pyocyanens 

 aureus. In one series of experiments smears were made with 

 live organisms on agar slants; then a given fume was poured into 

 or over the test tube and the culture incubated. In another 

 series of experiments agar or gelatin plates were inoculated with 

 the bacteria and allowed to remain open under a glass bell jar, 

 in which incense was burned. In still another series of experi- 

 ments the various spices in powdered form, individually or in 

 combination with each other, were incorporated in culture media 

 and then an attempt was made to grow bacteria on those media. 

 Control experiments were made by burning filter paper (cellulose) , 

 raw cotton and various woods. 



The results of the experiments showed that the fumes of most 

 of the gum and spices studied, notably gum galbanum, gum 

 olibanum, cinnamon and saffron prevented the growth of freshly 

 transplanted bacteria, in other words, exerted a distinct antiseptic 

 action. When however such fumes were poured over or brought 

 in contact with fully grown or luxuriously developed cultures of 

 B. pyocyaneus and especially of B. coli the germicidal effect was not 

 so marked. This was possibly due to the poor penetration of the 

 fumes and the volatile oils, etc., carried over by them, into the 

 deeper layers of the cultures. 



It was not surprising to note that fumes produced by destruc- 

 tion of various woods and also of cotton gave similar results. 

 Pure cellulose however was not antiseptic in this respect. 



Inoculation of bacteria into culture media impregnated with 

 the various aromatics produced a distinct inhibitory effect on 

 their growth. 



The burning of various forms of incense, especially of Japanese 

 origin produced a distinct antiseptic effect, that is, inhibited the 



