i88 PLANT AND ORGANIC CHEMISTRY 



ising commercial future deserve more than a passing notice. 

 Liebrich observed that cholesterin fat possesses the peculiar 

 property of being able to absorb more than 100 per cent, of 

 water, and this singular property was denominated by the 

 great pharmacologist, lanosation, while the cholesterin, mixed 

 with water, was termed by him, lanolin. He also first called 

 attention to the great therapeutical value of lanolin, and 

 shortly afterwards the industrial production of pure lanolin 

 was commenced by a Berlin firm, 1 and its manufacture has 

 been of late steadily increasing. 



Lanolin is already taking the place of vaseline, parafnne, 

 and lard. Its efficacy has already been established beyond 

 doubt, and its superiority is due to the extraordinary readiness 

 with which it is absorbed by the skin. This property is not 

 known to belong in a similar degree to any other fatty sub- 

 stance. Besides the medicinal use, it has also been already 

 introduced into various branches of industry, such as per- 

 fumery, soaps, and pomades, also for greasing leather belting 

 and for improving the pliability of leather. 



The history of the wholesale drug trade for the year 1886 

 is one of the most remarkable on record, since 1879-80. In 

 a late number of the "Druggist's Circular," 2 a summary is 

 given of the year, from which I have taken some statements, 

 from the table of prices, as follows: 



January i. December 15. July i. 



Alcohol $2.10 $2.17 $2.09 



Camphor 23 22.25 - 2 3 



Gum arable 70 .95 .82^ 



Morphine 2.25 2.10 1.90 



Vanilla bean 10.00 18.00 12.00 



Copaiba balsam 34 .36 .34 



Cubebs 90 1.35 .95 



Tragacanth 45 -42 -37$ 



Senna leaves 15 .27^ .30 



Golden-seal 14 .18 .13 



Pink-root 35 .47! - 6o 



1 Messrs. Jaffe* & Darmstadter. 



2 The Druggist's Circular and Chemical Gazette, January, 1887. 



