552 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



"(2) The cost of i)i()(liu'ti(iii of ("alil'ornia oil is so imicli lii<rher than that of the 

 .French and ItaUan oils that it conipetcs with difiiculty with the imported oils in the 

 American market, even after the latter have \nud duty amounting to 50 cts. per 

 gallon. 



"(3) The retiiil prices of the best grade of oil from the 3 sources are much the 

 same, but the average prices of the imported oils are much less than that of the Cal- 

 ifornia oil, owing to the large amount of lower grade foreign oils that is marketed in 

 this country. 



"(4) In the examinatit)n of olive oils for adulteration, a complete analysis is 

 usually necessary to reveal the real nature of the oil. In cases of gross adulteration 

 the qualitative tests, specific gravity, and index of refraction will often show the 

 nature of the adulterant and the extent to which it is employed. 



"(5) The adulteration of foreign oils imi^orted into this country is practiced to a 

 much less extent than is popularly supposed. Only 5 of the 61 samples obtained 

 from the custom officers were found to contain other than olive oil, and none of these 

 contained cotton-seed oil.« On the other hand, oils bought upon the market, bear- 

 ing labels indicating a foreign origin, were found to be quite extensively adulterated 

 with cotton-seed oil. It seems, therefore, probable that these adulterated oils bear- 

 ing foreign labels are labeled and modified after leaving the port of entry, neither the 

 domestic nor the foreign producer being responsible for them. This practice is 

 equally injurious to the interests of the Calfornia, French, or Italian manufacturer 

 of pure olive oil and the consumer. 



"(6) The results of analyses of oils of known purity show that there is a wide 

 range in the various values ordinarily considered of importance in indicating the 

 purity of an oil. This is especially true of the iodin number, the melting point of 

 fatty acids, and the percentage of solid fatty acids. The California olive oils gen- 

 erally have a higher iodin number, a lower melting point of fatty acids, and a lower 

 percentage of solid fatty acids than the French and Italian oils. 



"(7) All samples containing other than olive oil were sold as pure olive oil, 

 although in one case a careful observation of the label revealed the fact that the oil 

 was an olive-oil substitute." 



The estimation of moist gluten in flour, M. Arpin {Ann. Chirn. Analyt., 7 

 {1902), Nos. 9, pp. 325-331; 10, pp. 376-381; 11, pp. 416-430; abs. in Ztschr. Untermch. 

 Nahr. v. Genussmtl., 6 {1903), No. 21, pp. 1004, 1005). — A study of the errors involved 

 in estimating moist gluten and similar problems led the author to the conclusion that 

 the method is so subject to error as to make it quite unsatisfactory, and he recom- 

 mends abandoning the estimation of moist gluten and falling back on the nitrogen 

 content of fiour as a means of ;"udging of its gluten content. 



Colorimetric determination of chlorophyll in different plants, B. Jonsson 

 Bilanm K. Sremka Vi'Icmk. Akwl. Ilaiul/., 28 {1902), III, No. 8, App., pp. .30, pJ. 1). 



Report on the examination of foods, drugs, and public water supplies, 

 R. O. Brooks {Trenton, N. J.: State Lab. Hyg., Chem. Dept., 1903, pp. 30).— Oi the 

 341 samples of foods examined, 40.8 per cent was found adulterated. The percent- 

 age of adulteration of drugs was much higher. Analyses of 19 samples of water are 

 given. 



The theories of indicators, J. Stieglitz {Jour. Amer. Chem. Sac, 25 {1903), No. 

 11, }>]i. 1112-1127). — This article discusses (1) the chemical changes involved in 

 the change of color of indicators and (2) the cause of the characteristic differences 

 in sensitiveness of such indicators as phenolphthalein and methyl orange toward 

 various acids and bases. 



Under the first head the ionization theory of Ostwald and the chromophoric 

 theory are considered. The first is considered inadequate, ionization and change of 



« Two samples recently received from the custom-house have contained cotton- 

 seed oil. 



