SUGAR, MOLASSES, CONFECTIONS, AND HONEY. 809 

 NOTES RELATING TO RIGHT-HANDED ROTATION OF HONEYS. 



POLARIZATION OF HONEYS.* 



The author separates natural honeys into two classes, flower and fir honeys. The 

 former appear white to brown, contain no dextrin and are levorotatory. Fir honeys 

 are all brown, smell of pine, contain dextrin, and turn the ray to the right. For adul- 

 teration of honey, starch sirup in generally used. A 10 per cent solution of this, 

 in a 200 mm tube, gives a reading of 100 on a Soleil-Duboscq instrument. Solutions 

 of pure honey mixed with starch sirup gave : 



Traces of chlorine and sulphuric acid are no indication of adulteration. 

 DEXTRO ROTARY HONEYS.t 



A sample of honey described by the author, and which he regards as indubitably 

 pure, showed a specific rotation to the right of 3.74 for sodium light. Its composi- 

 tion was : water, 22.61 per cent ; ash, 0.09 ; levulose and dextrose, 64.33 ; and sucrose, 

 12.59. It was clear, transparent, almost colorless, very sweet, and only slightly aro- 

 matic. It showed no tendency to grain. Another sample showed a right rotation of 

 1.66. It consisted of 21.09 per cent water; 0.09, ash; levulose and dextrose, 69.41, 

 and 8.41 sucrose. The author believes the abnormal rotation to be due to sucrose. 



RIGHT ROTARY HONEY.J 



Honey gathered by bees in the habit of resorting to sugar refineries is very clear 

 and thin but almost without aroma. Four samples analyzed contained, respectively, 

 4.88, 16.38, and 9.93 per cent sucrose. 



Notes relating to the analyses of honey. 



A NEW METHOD OF TESTING HONEY. 



About five years ago every expert would condemn any sample of honey as adulter- 

 ated which turned the ray of polarized light to the right instead of the left, but at 

 about that time Dr. Haenle succeeded in finding some natural (wild) honey which 

 polarized to the right. This was subsequently ascertained to be due to the fact that 

 it had been collected from coniferous products. The author has now ascertained that 

 if the honey be dialyzed before polarization the result is a sure indication of its char- 



* O. Haenle, abs. Chem. Centralblatt, 1888, 443. 



t R. Bensemann,Zeit. fangew. Chem., 1888, 4, 117; abs. Chem. Centralblatt, 1888, 

 19, 479. 



t Von Lippman, Zeit. f. angew. Chem., 1888, No. 22 ; abs. Analyst, 1889, 14,20. 

 $ Dr. Oscar Haeule, Amer. Drug, and Pharm. Zeit. ; Analyst, April, 1891, 79. 



