ESSENTIAL OILS. 



The semi-annual reports of Messrs. Sehimmel & Co. may fairly be said 

 to constitute an epitome of everything of importance pertaining to essential 

 oils which has come forward during the period covered, and we are alwrys 

 glad to print liberal extracts from them. Much of practical value to the 

 pharmacist, as well as of scientific interest, will bo found in the quotations 

 which follow. 



" Scientific Progress. — Fewer scientific researches have been accom- 

 plished in this domain during the last six months than usually. It would, 

 however, be a mistaken inference to conclude that the realm of knowledge 

 has been so far advanced as to admit a pause in the work of further research. 

 On the contrary, many and important problems still remain to be solved; 

 but it should be borne in mind that with the extended and deeper insight 

 into the constitution of so highly complex organic compounds, the difficul- 

 ties of further and accurate research and of correct interpretation accumu- 

 late and sometimes necessitate a discriminating retrospect upon disjointed 

 or unclassified scientific material." 



"Adulteration. — Dishonest competition, manipulating in secret, utiliz- 

 ing the elastic nature of essential oils, and the difficulty of discriminating 

 between true and sophisticated products, and thus taking advantage of the-e 

 uncertainties, can only be counteracted and disarmed by enlightening the 

 public." 



" Oil of Bitter Almonds. — In consideration of the fact that as yet no 

 chemical test has been devised for ascertaining an admixture of chlorine- 

 freebenzaldehyde with true oil of bitter almonds, the latter has attained com- 

 mercially the character of a strictly confidential commodity. The distiller 

 alone is in the position to offer an asolute guarantee of the purity of his 

 product." 



"Oil of Cardamom. — We are informed that the cultivation of the wild 

 growing, so-called long Ceylon cardamom has recently been restricted. The 

 main portion of cardamom exported from Ceylon in i897, amounting to 

 £02,830 lbs., consisted of short, bleached fruits. This explains the contin- 

 uous want of the former sort, which is exported to England exclusively. 

 The last auction sales brought 3/10 per lb. The oil distilled from the long 

 fruit is consecjuently rare and expensive; it is, however, preferred in the 

 manufacture of liquors to the oil of other kinds of cardamom, for the reason 

 that it does not possess the strong camphoric aroma." 



"Cassia Oil. — The rates of the lower grades of oil have experienced a 

 further reduction in the course of the last six months, while the best grades 

 maintain i rather buoyant tendency. Quotations in Hongkong are about: — 



