Amju°nuei;-i89h3arm-}  Notes  on  Essential  Oils.  305 
(Pharm.  Journ.  [3],  vol.  xvii,  p.  231)  obtained  a  volatile  oil  having  an 
agreeable  odor  between  that  of  the  oils  of  lemon  and  verbena.  This 
odor  and  flavor  become  weaker  when  the  fruits  are  kept,  and  this 
fact  may  perhaps  account  for  the  similarity  of  the-"  citronelle  fruits" 
with  those  of  Daphnidium  Cubeba  having  hitherto  remained 
unnoticed. 
Dr.  Greshoff  found  the  alkaloid  laurotetanine  in  the  fruits  of 
Tetranthcra  citrata,  Nees,  and  an  alkaloid  was  also  found  by  Mr. 
J.  O.  Braithwaite  in  those  of  Daphnidium  Cubeba.  It  must  be 
admitted,  however,  that  the  same  reactions  were  not  obtained  by 
both  chemists,  nor  does  the  sp.  gr.  of  the  volatile  oil  obtained  by 
Mr.  Braithwaite  agree  exactly  with  that  given  by  Messrs.  Schimmel 
&  Co.  for  the  volatile  oil  of  Tetranihera  citrata  (Phar.  Journ.  [3], 
vol.  xix,  p.  327).  These  differences,  however,  may  have  been  due  to 
differences  in  the  mode  of  operation,  and  further  experiments  may 
confirm  their  identity.  The  use  of  the  fruits  by  the  Chinese  probably 
depends  partly  on  the  properties  of  the  volatile  oil  and  partly  on 
those  of  the  alkaloid.  It  may  be  hoped  that  the  alkaloid,  obtainable 
from  the  fruits  after  distillation,  may  be  extracted  and  its  therapeutical 
properties  examined.  Being  at  present  a  waste  product,  it  could 
probably  be  obtained  in  quantity  at  a  moderate  cost. — Pharm.  Jour, 
and  Trans.,  April  19,  1893,  P-  846. 
NOTES  ON  ESSENTIAL  OILS.1  > 
Camphor  oil. — Since  the  examination  of  this  oil  by  Messrs. 
Schimmel,  and  the  publication  of  their  suggestions  as  to  the  prac- 
tical application  of  its  constituents,  in  1885,  considerable  attention 
has  been  directed  to  it,  but  the  importation  from  Japan  has  fallen 
off.  As  a  material  for  artists  the  more  volatile  portion  has  been 
found  very  useful,  as  its  capacity  for  dissolving  resins  is  greater  than 
that  of  turpentine  or  any  other  essential  oil. 
Cassia  Oil. — The  previous  reports2  have  furnished  ample  informa- 
tion as  to  the  source  and  preparation  of  this  oil,  but  there  is  still 
some  uncertainty  as  to  the  conditions  influencing  its  quality.  Oil 
containing  only  from  45  to  55  per  cent,  of  cinnamic  aldehyde  has 
1  From  the  Bericht  of  Messrs.  Schimmel  &  Co.,  for  April,  1893  ;  Pharm.  Jour, 
and  Trans.,  1893,  p.  849. 
2  See  Pharm.  Journ.  [3],  xx,  264,  836  ;  Amer.  Journ.  Pharm.,  1889,  370,  575. 
