- 36 - 
are gently heated on a water bath for the purpose of driving off the 
dissolved ether, and the liquid is then benzoylised in the usual manner. 
By these means it is possible to ascertain both the free eugenol 
in clove oil, and that present in the form of ester. 
The modification in his method mentioned by Thoms appears 
advantageous in so far, as by these means the sesquiterpenes, which 
occasionally act in a disturbing manner, are previously removed. By 
this modification Thoms succeeded in obtaining satisfactory results, 
even with mixtures of a low eugenol-content (below 70 ^/q), whilst 
under ordinary conditions, according to Thoms' own experiments, 
this was only possible with oils of high-percentage. 
Coriander OiL The situation with regard to this article is 
extraordinary. In Thuringia the oldest sources of supply have failed 
completely. The merchants there are now even obtaining supplies 
from Morocco, but unfortunately that quality is not suitable for dis- 
tillation on account of its low oil-content. The production in that 
country has increased largely. The exports from Casablanca amounted 
in 1902: — 
To Germany 453000 kilos, value 54360 marks 
„ the United Kingdom . 393000 „ „ 44620 
„ France 34^750 41 129 
„ Italy 2000 „ „ 240 
„ Portugal 28474 „ „ 3555 
„ Spain ...... 42500 „ „ 4800 
Total: I 261 724 kilos, value 148704 marks. 
As compared with 1901, they show an increase of about 30 ^/q. 
Moravia and Hungary helped to supply the required coriander for 
the distillation of oil, and sufficient quantities could finally be obtained, 
although only at very high prices. 
Cypress Oil. In the year 1892 Dr. J. M. Bravo strongly re- 
commended in the Revista medica de Chile ^) the use of cypress oil 
against whooping-cough. As the result of repeated enquiries, we were 
led, in 1894 2), to manufacture and introduce into commerce the oil 
which up to that time could not be obtained anywhere. Although 
we subsequently repeatedly recommended the use of this oil in our 
Reports, as we constantly heard its excellent effect highly praised, it 
would appear that, with a few rare exceptions, it is very seldom 
prescribed by physicians. For this reason it was a source of great 
pleasure to hear that Professor Dr. Soltmann, director of the hospital 
for children at Leipzig, was prepared to test the value of this oil on 
a large scale in his excellently equipped institution. 
^) Abstract in the Deutsche Medizinalzeitung 13 (1892), 45. 
2) Report October 1894, 70, and April 1895, 22. 
