340 
ON  GRATIOLA  OFFICINALIS. 
This  table  shows  that  the  fusing  point  of  Otto  of  Rose,  and  the 
proportion  of  stearoptene  vary  greatly  in  different  samples.  But 
it  will  also  be  observed  that  there  is  a  similarity  in  the  Otto  pro- 
duced in  each  locality.  Thus,  that  of  the  South  of  England  and 
North  of  France  (samples  Nos.  1,  2,  and  3)  has  a  high  fusing 
point  (varying  from  85°  to  91°),  and  contains  a  large  percentage 
(50  to  68)  of  stearoptene.  The  Otto  of  the  South  of  France 
fuses  between  70°  and  74Q,  and  affords  from  35  to  41  per  cent, 
of  stearoptene.  That  of  Turkey,  if  we  may  consider  samples 
Nos.  8,  9  and  10  as  equally  genuine  with  No.  7  (Messrs.  Her- 
man's), fuses  at  from  65°  to  62°,  and  affords  from  7.3  to  6.4  per 
cent,  of  stearoptene.*  Sample  No.  11  may  be  regarded  with 
some  suspicion  from  its  resemblance  to  No.  12 — the  latter  being 
acknowledged  of  inferior  quality. 
Whether  the  differences  that  exist  in  the  characters  of  the 
different  kinds  of  Otto,  are  the  result  of  climate  or  of  the  method 
of  manufacture,  or  whether  (especially  in  the  case  of  the  Turk- 
ish Otto)  they  are  to  be  traced  to  a  difference  in  the  species  of 
rose,  are  questions  for  determining  which  I  have  at  present  no 
sufficient  data.- — London  Pharm.  Journ.,  April,  1859. 
ON  GRATIOLA  OFFICINALIS. 
By  Dr.  F.  G.  Walz. 
Some  time  ago  the  author  made  an  analysis  of  Gratiola  offi- 
cinalis, and  obtained  the  following  distinct  principles  :  Gratio- 
lin,  Gratiosolin,  Gratiolacrin,  fixed  oil,  brown  resin,  tannin  and 
a  volatile  acid,  called  antirrhinic  acid,  which  is  present  in  many 
plants  belonging  to  the  family  of  Scrophularinese.  He  has  now 
examined  some  of  the  above  principles  and  the  products  of  their 
decomposition. 
Cfratiolin.  The  aqueous  infusion  is  precipitated  by  subacetate 
of  lead,  the  lead  removed,  the  liquid  precipitated  with  tannin, 
the  washed  precipitate  exhausted  by  alcohol,  digested  with  hy- 
drate d  oxide  of  lead,  treated  with  animal  charcoal,  evaporated, 
the  dry  powder  extracted  with  ether,  the  residue  washed  with 
*  The  test  used  in  Turkey  by  the  persons  who  purchase  Otto  from  the  pro- 
ducers, is  to  plunge  a  small  vial  of  it  into  water  at  10°  Reaumur  (=  55°  F.). 
If,  in  the  space  of  five  minutes,  the  Otto  congeals,  it  is  regarded  as  genuine. 
