— 13 — 
methylene - 3,4 -dioxyhydratropic acid 80^, and of methylene -3,4- dioxy- 
acetophenone obtained from this acid 87° to 88°. 
2. From methyl isoeugenol, dimethoxy-3,4-hydratropic aldehyde 
yCHO 
(CH3O), = QH3-CH< 
CH3, 
a solid body of the melting point 44°. Melting point of the 
oxime 77 ^^ The acid belonging to it, dimethoxy-3,4-hydratropic acid, 
melts at 60^, and the dimethoxyacetophenone formed from it, at 48°. 
3. From isoapiol, dimethoxymethylene dioxyhydratropic aldehyde 
''\CeH .-CH<( 
This is a colourless liquid, boiling at 305°, and having a specific 
gravity at 15 ^ of 1,246. It is almost insoluble in petroleum ether. 
The acid belonging to it, dimethoxymethylene dioxyhydratropic acid, 
mehs at 97°, and the dimethoxymethylene dioxyacetophenone pro- 
duced from it, at 92°. 
Basil Oil. The freshly-distilled essential oil from Ocimitm Basi- 
licum L. [Selasih hidjaii) rotates the plane of polarised light 0,35° to 
the right, according to the observation made at the agriculturo- chemical 
laboratory of the Botanic Garden of Buitenzorg i). If the oil is 
decomposed into fractions by steam distillation, and if the 10 per cent, 
first passing over are collected separately, this portion shows a 
dextrorotation of -j- 5°, whilst the residue rotates 0,6° to the left. 
This residue, when heated, shows a remarkable optical behaviour. 
If, namely, it is heated up to nearly its boiling point, which lies at 
about 215°, and it is then cooled down, it is found that the pre- 
viously slightly Isevorotatory residue has become dextrorotatory (-|- 2° 
in a 200 mm tube). But if it is heated for a prolonged time to a 
high temperature, the dextrorotatory power increases to -|- 3,4°, and 
appears to remain there permanently. On the other hand, by distil- 
lation in vacuo, only a body with a considerably lower dextrorotatory 
power can be isolated from the residue. 
This peculiar optical behaviour of basil oil will be submitted to 
further examination. 
Bay Oil. We have lately received such important consignments 
of genuine bay-leaves, that we were again able to supply exclusively 
our own distillate of the highest possible quality. 
In addition to the 6 low-grade oils mentioned in our last Report, 
another large parcel of about 2300 lbs. imported in London from 
^) Annual Report 1901, 58. 
