^""Aucr^ssf™'}     Anthemis  Cotula — Theoretical  Observations.  381 
THEORETICAL  OBSERViTIONS  on  ANTHEMIS  COTULA. 
By  Dr.  F.  L.  Slocum. 
The  microscopical  examination  shows  enough  oil  cells  to  warrant  a 
much  larger  yield  of  oil  than  was  obtained  by  Mr.  Hurd^  and  that  a 
much  larger  amount  of  oil  is  present  is  proved  by  the  easy  decomposi- 
tion of  the  oil^  and  the  polymerization  of  the  acid.  The  condensation 
of  the  acid  into  resin  occurs  so  easily  that  in  order  to  make  a  thorough 
examination,  over  four  tons  of  the  plant  would  have  to  be  distilled. 
The  oil  even  decomposes  by  distilling  the  plant  as  shown  by  its  acid 
reaction,  it  undoubtedly  being  a  neutral  ether  at  first.  The  acid  is  an 
unsaturated  acid  closely  allied  to  angelic  and  tiglinic  acids  (CgHgOa). 
It  combines  with  HBr  directly  to  a  bromine  compound.  It  decom- 
poses into  valerianic  acid  by  gently  warming  its  calcium  salt,  or  heating 
it  with  HI  and  red  phosphorus,  similar  to  angelic  acid  ("  Asher,  Ber.,'' 
2,  p.  685),  also  by  distilling  the  oil  with  dilute  HoSO^  it  passes  into 
valerianic  acid,  as  shown  by  Warner,  who  supposed  the  plant  really  con- 
tained valerianic  acid,  but  in  reality  this  acid  was  only  a  decomposition 
product.  However,  these  reactions  show  that  the  acid  obtained  is 
isomeric  with  angelic  acid. 
The  alcohols  obtained  were  saturated  alcohols,  as  proven  by  Mr. 
Hurd's  experiments.  Apparently  a  large  portion  of  them  was  hexyl- 
alcohol,  CgHj^O.  The  highest  boiling  portion  resembled  Fittig's  an- 
themol  (^^Annalen,"  vol.  195,  p.  104).  The  alcohols  below  hexyl- 
alcohol  are  present  in  very  minute  quantities  if  present  at  all.  It  is 
much  to  be  regretted  that  enough  of  the  oil  could  not  be  obtained  so 
that  definite  quantitative  results  could  have  been  given ;  but  the  results 
as  far  as  ascertained  by  Mr.  Hurd,  conclusively  prove  that  the  oil  of 
A.  Cotula  is  a  compound  ether  very  closely  allied  to  the  oil  of  A.  no- 
bilis,  hence  proving  its  close  family  connection  and  showing  it  to  be  a 
compound  ether  composed  of  the  same  series  of  acids  and  alcohols.  In 
fact  the  compounds  of  the  oils  are  so  nearly  identical  that  the  relation 
of  the  plants  could  be  identified  by  an  examination  of  the  oils  alone. 
Prevention  of  Chrysarobin  Staining.— The  staining  of  the  clothes 
caused  by  chrysarobin  may  be  i^revented  by  making  the  latter  into  a  dough 
with  water,  and  after  applying  to  the  diseased  spot,  covering  it  with  a  layer 
of  collodion. — Birmingham  Medical  Review ;  Cine.  Lancet. 
