- 38 - 
thorax. Finally, control-tests, where the application of oil was purposely 
suddenly discontinued, showed almost regularly an increase in the number and 
intensity of the attacks. The treatment which was then again taken up was 
responded to by a renewed decrease of the attacks. The individual paroxysm 
frequently ended with one single attack, i. e. the "reprise" remained absent, 
or only one or two feeble night-attacks occurred. On the whole, the period 
of the second (paroxysmal) stage of whooping-cough appeared under this treatment 
to be shortened in a marked degree, although this is very difficult to judge 
in view of the great fluctuations of this period in individual cases. I do not 
feel justified in assuming that the total duration of the disease is shortened; 
at least, the medicament had very little or no influence on the slight and more 
"catarrhal" attacks of coughing of the third stage. 
But the fact that the patients — including the younger ones, — had suffered 
very little constitutionally in the course of the disease, even with a severe com- 
mencement of the whooping-cough , was specially noticeable, as compared with 
previous observations, not only by their healthy appearance, but also by the 
fact that almost all the children could be dismissed in a good state of nutrition. 
During the weighing, which was continued with regularity, considerable in- 
creases in weight were observed, so much so, that the difference between 
the weights of the patients when admitted and when dismissed showed from 
Y2 to 2 lbs. even up to 4 lbs. in favour of the latter, as will be seen from 
the reported histories of the individual cases. Loss of weight could only be 
recorded in two cases which had been admitted with severe compHcations, and 
of which one died. 
How the cypress oil acts, and to which constituents the favourable action 
is due, are questions which still remain to be solved. Further examinations 
respecting the constitution of the oil are necessary, and are now being carried 
on in the laboratory of Messrs. Schimmel & Co. 
If further trials by others should confirm my favourable results (as I believe 
will be the case), — whereby it would be desirable to work under as nearly as 
possible the same conditions, — and if cypress oil should then become the 
common property of practical physicians against a disease which is propagated 
so extensively by the spread of infection-bearers capable of reproduction, and 
in which the mortality of the younger generation is so considerable, but where 
long years of suffering are still more frequently the consequences, — then my 
modest contribution would not have been without value, and its purpose would 
have been accomplished." 
The examination referred to above has meanwhile been carried out 
by us, and we are able to report on it as follows. Up to now, only 
d-pinene and cypress camphor had been detected in cypress oil. On 
further examination we found in it, in addition to these, some other 
interesting bodies. The oil worked up had the following constants: 
d-^go = 0,8922; aj) = -|- 16° 5'; nj)2o° = 1,47416. Saponification 
number 25,3. Saponification number after acetylisation 50,5. These 
values correspond to a content of 8,8^/0 of esters H^^y OCOCH3, 
and 7^0 of alcohols CioH^gC^- '^^^^ make a clear solution 
with 10 parts 90 ^/q alcohol. The examination commenced with a 
distillation of 2 kilos oil in vacuo. 
Furfurol. The first drops passed over at 44° (10 mm pressure), 
and with a solution of aniline hydrochlorate in aniline gave the purple 
colouration which is characteristic of furfurol. 
