FRAGRANT LEAVES V. SWEET-SCENTED FLOWERS. 
149 
table oils. A large number of the essential oils tested did 
actually prevent the development of the anthrax bacillus; while, 
on the other hand, a few of them did not do so. At the end of 
six days the culture tubes containing the bacillus and the oil 
were opened, and the oil which had been absorbed by the culture 
liquid allowed to evaporate. Living cultures were again obtained 
from all except the following, which it was inferred had destroyed 
the vitality of the bacillus and its spores or divisions. The 
essential oils that did this were Angelica, Cinnamon of China, 
Cinnamon of Ceylon, Geranium of France, Geranium of Algeria, 
and Origanum. In the case of the typhoid bacillus the essences 
which killed its germs after a contact of less than twenty-four 
hours were as follows :— 
Germicidal Power of Essential Oils. 
Cinnamon of Ceylon, at the end of 12 minutes. 
Cloves, ,, ,, ,, 2 d ,, 
Engenol, „ „ „ 80 „ 
Thyme, ,, „ „ 35 „ 
Thyme, Wild, „ „ ,, 45 
Verbena of India, „ ,, ,, 45 ,, 
Geranium of France, ,, „ „ 50 „ 
Origanum, „ „ ,,75 
Patchouli, ,, ,, ,, 80 ,, 
Zeodary, ,, ,, ,, 2 hours. 
Absinthe, ,, ,, ,, 4 ,, 
Sandal-wood, ,, ,, ,, 12 ,, 
Essential Oils as Antiseptics. 
Professor Riedlin reports, as to the results of his experiments, 
that the essential oils which have the greatest antiseptic value 
are “ oil of Lavender, Eucalyptus, Rosemary, and Cloves. As 
to Eucalyptol its efficiency as an antiseptic has been popularly 
much overrated.” Thus Chabannes and Perret found a 5 per 
cent, solution had no effect whatever on tubercle bacilli in 
sputum; and, according to Behring, Eucalyptol is about four 
times less active as a disinfectant than is carbolic acid. 
Artificial or Chemical Perfumes. 
Apart from animal perfumes such as musk, civet, castor, and 
ambergris, and the vegetable odours derived from flowers, leaves, 
