FRAGRANT LEAVES V. SWEET-SCENTED FLOWERS. 



149 



table oils. A large number of the essential oils tested did 

 actually prevent the development of the anthrax bacillus ; while, 

 on the other hand, a few of them did not do so. At the end of 

 six days the culture tubes containing the bacillus and the oil 

 were opened, and the oil which had been absorbed by the culture 

 liquid allowed to evaporate. Living cultures were again obtained 

 from all except the following, which it was inferred had destroyed 

 the vitality of the bacillus and its spores or divisions. The 

 essential oils that did this were Angelica, Cinnamon of China, 

 Cinnamon of Ceylon, Geranium of France, Geranium of Algeria, 

 and Origanum. In the case of the typhoid bacillus the essences 

 which killed its germs after a contact of less than twenty -four 

 hours were as follows : — 



Germicidal Power op Essential Oils. 



Cinnamon of Ceylon, at the end of 12 minutes. 



Cloves, ,, , 



> 55 25 ,, 



Engenol, , 



„ 30 



Thyme, , , 



5 55 00 55 



Thyme, Wild, 



45 



Verbena of India, „ , 



, „ 45 



Geranium of France, 



„ 50 



Origanum, „ , 



M 75 



Patchouli, ,, , 



„ 80 



Zeodary, ,, , 



, ,,2 hours. 



Absinthe, ,, , 



5 5 5 4 55 



Sandal-wood, ,, , 



5 5 1 12 „ 



Essential Oils as Antiseptics. 

 Professor Eiedlin reports, as to the results of his experiments, 

 that the essential oils which have the greatest antiseptic value 

 are " oil of Lavender, Eucalyptus, Rosemary, and Cloves. As 

 to Eucalyptol its efficiency as an antiseptic has been popularly 

 much overrated." Thus Chabannes and Perret found a 5 per 

 cent, solution had no effect whatever on tubercle bacilli in 

 sputum ; and, according to Behring, Eucalyptol is about four 

 times less active as a disinfectant than is carbolic acid. 



Artificial or Chemical Perfumes. 

 Apart from animal perfumes such as musk, civet, castor, and 

 ambergris, and the vegetable odours derived from flowers, leaves, 



