XV, 4 
Oshima: Formosan Termites 
363 
cedar is somewhat resistant, for the damage was less when 
heartwood was used than when sapwood was used. When freshly 
cut the heartwood is reddish in color and emits a pleasing 
fragrance like camphor, while the sapwood is whitish and odor- 
less. It is possible, therefore, that the resistance of the heart- 
wood is due to the presence of some antiseptic chemical. Led 
by the supposition, an investigation to determine the chemical 
properties of Foochow cedar was made. 
Fresh Foochow cedar, from Foochow (285 pounds, or 106 . 5 -)- 
kilograms), was cut into thin slices and extracted by means of 
steam distillation. Superheated steam (pressure, 40 pounds, or 
18 + kilograms) was passed through the extractor (capacity, 50 
pounds, or 22+ kilograms) for five hours, and the vapor was 
condensed in a copper condenser. The oil layer floating on the 
water was separated by a separatory funnel. From this 650 
grams ( 4.6 per cent) of viscous, grayish brown oil were obtained. 
On cooling the oil a large amount of fine, needle-shaped crystals 
formed. After keeping the oil at 5 ° C. for twenty-four hours, 
it was filtered in order to separate the crystals. Crystals thus 
obtained were placed on an absorptive porcelain plate and en- 
tirely freed from oil. One hundred one grams of pure white 
crystals (nearly 40 per cent of the oil) were obtained. These 
crystals are soluble in ether, chloroform, petroleum ether, and 
amyl alcohol and are easily recrystallized from methyl alcohol 
solution. By means of sublimation under ordinary pressure the 
substance changes into colorless, delicate crystals, having the 
appearance of asbestos. The oil separated from the crystals has 
the properties recorded in Table XXII. 
Table XXII . — Properties of oil from Foochoiv cedar. 
Optical rotatory power ( [ a ] D in 10 per cent benzene 
solution) (degrees) -f7.74 
Refractive index (at 28° C.) 1.4970 
Specific gravity (at 18.5° C.) 0.9465 
Acid value 0.0 
Ester value 9.37 
Ester value after acetylation 57.20 
According to the results of an investigation made by K. 
Kafuku, the present oil contains only 2 per cent of alcohol 
(C 10 H 18 O). The presence of nopinene, camphene, and borneol 
is also proved by that author. 10 Under ordinary pressure it 
distills at 160° C. Below 310° C. the fractions are colorless, 
‘“Report of the termite 6 (1917) 57-91. 
