46 
Notes  on  Essential  Oils. 
Am  Jour.  Pha.rm 
Jan.,  1891. 
lead  would  only  have  to  be  borne  in  mind  in  the  examination  of  old  cassia  oil 
left  in  badly-closed  vessels. 
Eucalyptus  Oils. — The  production  of  the  genuine  oil  of  Eucalyptus  Globulus 
in  Algiers  only  amounts  to  about  2,000  kilos  per  year.  The  consumption  of 
eucalyptus  has  not  increased,  on  the  whole,  especially  since  a  highly  pro- 
ductive substitute  has  been  found  in  cajeput  oil  for  the  preparation  of  euca- 
lyptol  (cineol).  P.  W.  Squire  has  called  attention,  in  the  Chemist  and  Drug- 
gist, to  an  oil  coming  in  the  market  as  that  of  Eucalyptus  amygdalina,  which 
contains  no  phellandrene  and  rotates  a  ray  of  light  to  the  right  instead  of  to 
the  left.  Similar  observations  have  been  made,  and  the  opinion  is  expressed 
that  the  various  kinds  of  the  eucalyptus  leaves  are  no  longer  carefully  sepa- 
rated. Large  samples  of  the  distillate  of  Eucalyptus  maculata  var.  citriodora 
have  been  received  from  Queensland.  Its  sp.  gr.  at  150  was  0*873.  When  dis- 
tilled, about  3^  goes  over  between  205°-2io°  ;  while  smaller  fractions  boil  under 
and  above  these  temperatures.  The  fraction  205°-2io°  consists  almost  entirely 
of  pure  citronellon.  When  shaken  with  solution  of  sodium  bisulphite,  the  mix- 
ture becomes  hot  and  a  fairly  solid  mass  forms,  from  which,  after  washing  with 
ether,  pure  citronellon  separates  on  decomposing  with  soda  solution.  The 
fraction  boiling  under  2000,  about  4  per  cent.,  showed  none  of  the  character- 
istic reactions  of  cineol  (eucalyptol),  and  it  must,  therefore,  be  assumed  that 
this  body  is  not  present  in  the  oil  of  Eucalyptus  maculata  var.  citriodora.  The 
well-rectified  oil  is  colorless,  has  a  pleasant  melissa-like  odor,  and  may  be  use- 
ful in  perfumery  and  soap  manufacture.  Cineol  is  reported  as  existing  in  the 
following  oils  not  previously  reported  as  containing  it :  Zedaary  root  oil 
(Curcuma  Zedoaria),  California  Laurel  oil  (Oreodaphne  californica)  and  in  oil 
of  Canella  alba. 
Garlic  Oil.  — This  is  now  prepared  principally  for  use  in  sauces  and  spices. 
1,600  kilos  of  fresh  garlic  yield  1  kilo  of  the  oil ;  sp.  gr.  1*057  at  150. 
Geranium  Oils. — The  African  Geranium  oil  from  Algiers  is  now  brought  in 
competition  with  oil  from  a  new  source,  Reunion,  and  in  the  neighboring  isle, 
St.  Mauritius,  distillation  is  also  carried  on  on  a  smaller  scale.  The  Reunion 
oil  is  distinguished  by  a  beautiful  green  color,  which  is  not  due  to  presence  of 
copper.  No  important  chemical  differences  appear  to  exist  between  the  two 
kinds.  The  specific  gravities  are  as  follows  :  Algerian,  0*899  >  Reunion,  0*891. 
The  so-called  "Turkish  "  geranium  oil  is  distilled  from  the  well-known  grass, 
Andropogon  Schcenanthus.  A  great  part  of  that  distilled  in  the  Nimar  district 
is  adulterated  by  the  distillers  with  turpentine  oil,  regularly  supplied  from 
Bombay  for  the  purpose.  The  grass  flowers  in  October  and  November,  when  it 
is  cut  and  distilled  ;  373  pounds  of  grass  from  Kandesh,  distilled  in  Bombay, 
yielded  1  pound  5^  ozs.  of  oil.  The  oil  adulterated  with  turpentine  is  the 
ordinary  Ginger-Grass  oil  of  commerce.  For  statements  of  F.  W.  Semmler, 
regarding  composition  of  Indian  Geranium  oil,  see  Amkr.  Jour.  Pharmacy, 
1890,  p.  400. 
Lavender  Oil. — The  reappearance  of  an  old  test  for  detecting  adulteration  in 
lavender  oil — namely,  the  solubility  of  the  oil  in  3  parts  of  70  per  cent,  volume 
alcohol  at  16°  C.1— induced  Messrs.  Schimmel  to  make  an  inspection  of  the 
1  This  test  was  recently  given  prominence  in  a  circular  to  the  trade  by  Mr. 
George  Lueders,  who  stated  that  1  part  of  lavender  oil  dissolved  in  3  parts  of 
