52 BURGUNDY PITCH. 



1867. Another exhibitor of genuine Burgundy Pitch is Mr. Theodor 



Milliner of Hinter Briihl, Post Modling near Vienna, who shows 



FicJiienharz, or crude resin of the Spruce Fir and Fichtenpech, 



which is the same in a purified condition. The latter may be 



regarded as a type of good Burgundy Pitch. 



These contributions to the Paris Exhibition show that the 

 resin of the Spruce is collected for trade purposes in Finland 

 and in Germany, and in the first-named country upon a 

 very considerable scale. It does not, however, appear that 

 it is ever termed Burgundy Pitch in the places where it 

 is produced. 



Although genuine Burgundy Pitch (usually, it must be ad- 

 mitted, in a very impure state) has been always obtainable in 

 the London market, it is rarely found genuine in the shops, 

 an artificial compound being very generally supplied in its 

 place. 



This artificial Burgundy Pitch is of most variable appearance. 

 On examining eight samples of it, I find that in my notes I have 

 described it as dull tawny, bright tawny yellow, bright yellow, 

 brilliant orange yellow, or bright orange brown. Some samples 

 have a dull wax-like fracture, others a more or less shining or 

 conchoidal fracture. Some exhibit, when broken, numerous cells 

 containing air and water ; others are more compact. All are 

 more or less opaque, but become transparent on the surface in 

 the course of time by the loss of water. All the samples have 

 a weak terebinthinous odour, not one possessing the fra- 

 grance of true Burgundy Pitch. All are free from bits of stick 

 and such like impurities which are frequently found in the 

 genuine drug. 



I am not in the secret of the manufacture of this artificial 

 Burgundy Pitch, for which indeed each maker must have his 

 own formula. According to common report, however, it is 

 formed by melting together common resin with palm oil or 

 some other fat, water being stirred into the mixture to produce 

 an opaque appearance. In examining the characters of genuine 

 and spurious Burgundy Pitch, I have noted the following 

 differences : 



