THE  AMERICAN 
JOURNAL  OF  PHARMACY. 
JANUARY,  1884. 
CANELLA  ALBA. 
By  John  P.  Frey,  Ph.G. 
From  an  Inaugural  Essay. 
After  a  detailed  botanical  description  of  the  plant,  and  a  histological 
description  of  the  bark,  accompanied  by  micro-photographs  of  the 
transverse  and  longitudinal  section,  the  author  states  the  result  of  his 
analysis  thus  :  volatile  oil  1*28,  resin  8#2,  mannit  6  to  8,  ash  8*9  per 
cent.,  starch  in  considerable  quantity,  bitter  principle,  albumen  and 
cellulose. 
Ten  pounds  of  well-selected  bark  was  carefully  distilled,  and  from 
the  distillate  896  grains  (1*28  per  cent.)  of  volatile  oil  was  collected, 
only  a  minute  quantity  being  wasted.  The  oil  was  in  two  portions, 
one  heavier  and  the  other  lighter  than  water ;  the  former  was  *70  per 
cent,  and  the  latter  *58  per  cent.  Both  oils  have  a  very  strong,  fra- 
grant, somewhat  camphoraceons  odor,  and  a  pungent,  aromatic  taste, 
the  heavy  oil  being  stronger  in  taste  and  odor.  The  odor  of  the  bark 
is  due  to  these  volatile  oils.  The  specific  gravity  of  the  heavy  oil  is 
1*012;  it  is  reddish-brown,  begins  to  boil  at  200°F.,  and  the  temper- 
ature gradually  rises  to  420°F.,  when  it  remains  constant.  It  congeals 
at  38 °F.  The  light  oil  has  the  specific  gravity  * 98 8,  is  of  a  light  straw 
color,  begins  to  boil  at  185°F. ;  congealing  point  about  22°F.  Both 
oils  have  a  strong  acid  reaction.  Nitric  acid  acts  upon  them  violently, 
producing  a  red  resinous  mass  which  is  insoluble  in  alcohol,  ether  and 
potassium  hydrate.  Sulphuric  acid  produces  a  deep  blood-red  color. 
Iodine  dissolves  in  both  oils  slowly  and  quietly.  Ferric  chloride  pro- 
duces a  deep  blue  color,  showing  the  presence  of  eugenic  acid  or  euge- 
nol.  By  neutralizing  the  oils  with  potassium  hydrate  and  distilling, 
the  residue  is  a  crystalline  mass  of  potassium  eugenate,  from  which, 
with  sulphuric  acid  and  distilling,  eugenol  is  obtained  as  a  colorless 
oily  liquid,  having  a  pleasant  odor.  The  distillate  of  the  oils  with 
excess  of  potassium  hydrate  contained  two  colorless  oils,  one  heavier 
1 
