5^0  British  Pharmaceutical  Conference.  { 
\in.  four.  Pharm. 
Oct..  1880 
alkaloids,  since  it  is  inconsistent  with  the  observation  of  IVIr.  Williams,  that  some- 
times no  crystallizable  alkaloid  is  to  be  obtained  in  operating  upon  the  roots.  This 
apparent  variability  would  appear  to  show  that  it  is  desirable  to  make  further  experi- 
ments with  a  view  of  ascertaining  how  far  the  amount  of  crystallizable  aconitine 
may  be  influenced  by  differences  in  the  age  of  the  roots  or  by  differences  in  the  soil 
and  climate  in  which  they  are  grown.  Dr.  Wright  considers  that  experiments  of 
this  kind,  as  well  as  those  necessary  for  asceitaining  the  precise  method  of  treat- 
ment and  the  menstrua  best  suited  for  separating  crystallizable  aconitine  economi- 
cally on  the  large  scale  from  the  non-crystallizable  alkaloids  associated  with  it,  can- 
not be  readily  carried  out  by  the  scientific  chemist  in  his  laboratory.  It  appears, 
-therefore,  that  this  investigation  still  leaves  unsatisfied  the  want  which,  on  a  previous 
occasion,  we  pointed  out  as  being  the  most  pressing,  namely,  a  means  by  which  the 
peculiar  substance  possessing  powerful  physiological  activity  can  be  practically 
separated  from  the  less  active  substances  associated  with  it.  Until  this  is  done  there 
is  no  prospect  of  being  able  to  satisfy  the  demand  that  exists  for  a  more  definite 
form  of  aconitine  for  medical  purposes. 
In  Professor  Fluckigei'^s  paper  on  the  Essential  oil  of  Buchu  Leanjes^  he  pointed 
out  that  the  oil  contains  a  crystalline  substance  analogous  to  carbolic  acid,  to  which 
he  gives  the  name  " dios-phenol."  The  liquid  portion  of  the  oil,  chiefly  distilling 
between  205°  and  2io°C.,  possesses  an  odor  very  like  that  of  peppermint.  This  oil 
is  destitute  of  rotatory  power,  and  has  a  composition  approximately  represented  by 
■the  formula  C^QHjgO.  It  also  appears,  from  some  experiments  made  by  Dr.  Power, 
that  this  compound  is  contained  in  the  oil  in  the  form  of  a  compound  ether.  Pro- 
fessor Fliickiger  did  not  find  that  the  specimen  he  operated  upon  contained  salicylic 
acid.  In  connection  with  this  paper,  it  maybe  mentioned  thai  in  1865  Mr.  Umney 
pointed  out,  in  a  paper  read  before  the  Students'  Association  at  Bloomsbury  Square, 
the  existence  in  the  oil  of  Barosma  betulina  of  a  crystalline  s  ibstance,  of  which  he 
obtained  500  grains  from  20  fluidounces  of  the  oil.  It  is  to  this  substance  that  the 
greenish  coloration  of  the  oil  with  ferric  chloride  is  to  be  ascribed. 
Dr.  Power  then  read  a  paper  by  Professor  Fliickiger  and  himself  on  the  Consti- 
tuents of  Peppermint  Oil.  In  operating  upon  Mitcham  oil,  obtained  from  Schimmel 
&  Co.,  of  Leipsic,  which  had  been  deprived,  by  repeated  rectification,  as  completely 
as  possible  of  menthol,  about  10  per  cent,  of  an  oil  was  separated,  which  had  not 
before  been  investigated.  The  greater  portion  of  it  distilled  between  165°  and  i75°C., 
and  had  a  composition  intermediate  between  theformul<e  Cj^H^g  and  C^^H^g.  When 
purified  by  distillation  over  metallic  sodium  it  was  divided  into  two  fractions  of 
specific  gravity,  '859  and  -856.  By  the  distillation  the  peppermint  odor  was  lost, 
and  gave  place  to  that  of  freshly  distilled  oil  of  turpentine.  A  small  portion  of  the 
oil,  of  a  somewhat  viscid  character,  was  distilled  over  at  a  higher  temperature,  and 
is  considered  to  be  represented  by  a  multiple  of  the  simple  formula  CjgHjg,  probably 
CJ5H24.  According  to  these  results  the  liquid  portion  of  Mitcham  peppermint  oil 
would  appear  to  consist  of  isomeric  and  polymeric  terpenes.  i  he  authors  were 
unable  to  isolate  the  substance  which  forms  a  crystalline  compound  with  alkaline 
bisulphides  when  some  samples  of  peppermint  oil  are  operated  upon  in  this  way. 
It  is  considered  as  probably  having  a  boiling  point  approximating  to  that  of  menthol, 
and  to  be  the  cause  of  the  remarkable  color  reaction  and  fluorescence  displayed  by 
fresh  oil  of  peppermint  when  left  in  contact  with  a  few  drops  of  nitric  acid  (i"2o), 
since  this  reaction  is  not  given  by  the  terpenes  nor  by  menthol.  In  the  discussion 
that  followed,  attention  was  directed  to  the  necessity  of  ensurmg  in  investigations 
of  this  kind  that  the  iriaterial  operated  upon  is  free  from  any  kind  of  adulteration, 
and  in  illustration  of  the  fact  that  it  was  not  always  sufficient  to  purchase  what  is 
represented  to  be  the  best  commercial  article,  Mr.  Reynolds  referred  to  the  gloves 
mentioned  bv  Mr.  Southey,  whose  worst  glDves  were  distinctly  known  as  "best," 
and  who  had  four  other  kinds,  which  he  called  "better  than  best,"  "better  than 
better,"  "best  of  all,"  and  "real  best."  Mr.  Umney  also  pointed  out  that  from  the 
crude  manner  in  which  the  distillation  of  oil  of  peppertnint  is  carried  out,  it  was  to 
be  expected  that  even  genuine  samples  would  contain  more  or  less  empyreumatic 
materials,  unless  they  were  again  carefully  rectified  by  distillation  with  water. 
