— 55 — 
out of the roots , so long will it be difficult to improve the position of this 
article, which, in view of its importance, deserves a better fate. Not until 
November will it become clear whether and in how far the evil experience of 
the last few years has taught a useful lesson to the producers with regard to the 
new planting out of the roots. 
In view of what has been said above it may be taken for granted 
that the low^ prices of orris oil will for the present still remain in force. 
The manufacturers have probably laid in good stocks of cheap roots. 
Oil of Para Cress. From the essential extract of the Para cress 
[Spilanthes oleracea ]?iqu.m) E. Gerber^) obtained by steam distillation, 
in the yield of 0,27 per cent., an oil which had the following physical 
constants: d = 0,847; ^D=~f"i?S5°? molecular weight 215. It has 
an acrid taste, and the bulk distils over between 135° an 190° (35 mm 
pressure). The principal fraction boiling at reduced pressure at 145^ 
to 155°, consists chiefly of a hydrocarbon C15H3Q, spilanthene, which 
can be purified from foreign admixtures by oxidation with permanganate 
at the temperature of the water bath, and in that condition shows the 
boiling point 135° to 138° (25 mm) or 220° to 225° (at ordinary 
pressure). d = 0,845. Bromine, dissolved in chloroform, absorbs the 
hydrocarbon with blue discolouration which later on turns into a brown 
colour. The product of the reaction is a yellow, viscid oil of the com- 
position C^gHgoBrg. An acid isolated from the oxidation liquid has 
the melting point of 180°. It crystallises from water, and when treated 
with silver nitrate and sulphate of copper it forms crystalline deposits. 
The barium salt is amorphous. 
Patchouli Oil. We are in the pleasant position of being able 
to deliver this oil (which has become rare) in the most abundant 
manner, and that exclusively from our own distillate from choice 
leaves, for which we have a source of supply which has not failed 
us even in times when there was a general lack of material. 
Peppermint Oil, American. The position taken up by us from 
the first with regard to the peculiar state of the peppermint-oil market 
has not been fruitless; the prices, after reaching in March of this year 
the culminating point at about $ 5, — per lb., have since then declined 
without interruption down to about $ 2,30, and only during the 
last weeks they have again hardened considerably owing to unfavourable 
reports on the new peppermint-harvest. The American ''bulls" appear 
to be preparing for a new attack, but, it is hoped, will not succeed witli 
it, as at the last-mentioned figure much oil has been taken up by 
the consumers, and the principal channels of demand are now blocked, 
for a long time to come. We can only advise the hotspurs to abandon 
^) Archiv der Pharm. 241 (1903), 270. 
