SANTALACE^ 179
Cochin China, contains an essential oil of which a small sample from
Annam, where the plant is known by the name of Bruyere d'Annam
has been examined by Schimmel & Co.^1 The oil was of a bluish green
<x>lour, and possessed an odour reminding somewhat of cajuput oil.
Its constants were as follows : dw 0-8897; AO - 4° 34'; ^020°; 1*47544 ;
acid value T9; ester value 3 7; ester value after acetylation 44'8 = 12'7
per cent. C 10 H 8 O ; soluble in O5 volume a.m. of 90 per cent, alcohol.
Among the constituents is cineol, which was identified from the iodol-
compound (melting-point 112°). Judging by the odour of the oil,
cymene and linalol are also present.
A sample of oil previously examined under the name of " Essence
de Bruyere du Tonkin" possessed precisely similar characters, with the
exception of the rotation : du° 0-8787; aD + 10° 32'; raD2o° 1'47009; acid
value 1-7; ester value 5
*
9; ester value after acetylation 45
*
2; soluble in
0*3 volume a.m. of 90 per cent, alcohol.
According to Murat, the plant is in full flower in the month of
August. Distillation commences towards the end of January and gives
different results according to the localities in which the cutting is made
whether the plants be fresh or dry. The essential oil obtained is then
tjometimes of a green colour, sometimes of a pale yellow colour. This
divergence would appear to be attributable to the nature of the soil.
Koure-Bertrand Fils^2 have examined each of these two varieties of
the oil of Cathetus fasciculata. They possess the same odour, slightly
•camphoraceous, but recalling at the same time that of cineol. The
yellow oil is slightly less dense than the green oil; it differs from it,
further, in its lower optical rotation and acidity. Below are the
analytical characters of the two samples :—
Green Oil. Yellow Oil.
Specific gravity at 15° C..
Optical rotation.
Rotation of the acetylated oil
Solubility in 85 per cent, alcoho
Acid value ....
Saponification number
Ester number
„ „ (after acetylation)
About 30 per cent, of cineol was found in the oil.SANTALACE^E.
OIL OF SANDAL-WOOD.
The sandal-wood oil of commerce, which is largely employed in
medicine and perfumery, is the product of distillation of the wood of
Santalum album. This oil is known as Bast Indian sandal-wood oil.
Probably the Macassar oil is the product of the same tree. Santalum
album is a native of the mountainous parts of India, but is especially
found in Mysore, Malabar, and Coimbatore. It likewise grows on the
•Coromandel coast, in Madura and Assam. In the Madras presidency
and Mysore it is now grown on Government plantations from seeds.
The wood is sold at the Government auctions, and the latest classifica-
tion—for the various woods are not of equal value—with which the
billets are marked is as follows :—
(^1) Report, April, 1914, 102. (^2) Bulletin, April, 1914, 3, 9, 5.
0-8871
- 4° 40'
- 4° 36'
4-5 volumes and over
4-2
8-4
4-2
42-00-8862
- 1° 22'
- 1°14'
3 volumes and over
0-7
4-2
3-5
49-5