OLEUM ROS^ 267 



Qujj!to+2 ^^ being equal to more than 1(3), the separation of which has 

 not yet been thoroughly effected. The fusion point of the different 

 kind^ of paraffin generally ranges from 42 to 60^ C, yet one sort from 

 the bituminous shale of Autun, prepared and examined by Laurent/ 

 melts at 33° C, and in this respect agrees with our stearoptene. It is 

 therefore possible that the latter actually belongs to the paraffin series. 



We have not ascertained the correctness of Baur's strange experi- 

 ments (1872, Jahresbericht der Phann. p. 460), by which he believes 

 to have converted the liquid part of rose oil into the stearoptene by 

 means of a current of hydrogen. 



Commerce — Formerly attar of rose came into commerce by way of 

 Austria ; it is now shipped from Constantinople. From the interior, it 

 is transported in flattened round tin bottles called kunkumas, holding 

 from 1 to 10 lb., which are sewed up in white woollen cloth. These 

 sometimes reach this country, but more commonly the attar is trans- 

 ferred at Constantinople to small white glass bottles, ornamented with 

 gilding, imported from Germany. 



Uses — Attar of rose is of no medicinal importance, but serves 

 occasionally as a scent for ointments. Rose water is sometimes made 

 with it, but is not so good as that distilled from the flowers. Attar is 

 much used in perfumery, but still more in the scenting of snuflf. 



Adulteration — No drug is more subject than attar of rose to 

 adulteration, which is principally effected by the addition of the volatile 

 oil of an Lidian grass, Andropogon Schoenanthus L. This oil, which is 

 called in Turkish Idins yaghi, and also Entershah, and is more or less 

 known to Europeans as Geranium Oil, is imported into Turkey for this 

 express purpose, and even submitted to a sort of purification before 

 being used.- It was formerly added to the attar only in Constantinople, 

 but now the mixing takes place at the seat of the manufacture. It is 

 said that in many places the roses are absolutely sprinkled with it 

 before being placed in the still. As grass oil does not solidify by 

 cold, its admixture with rose oil renders the latter less disposed to 

 crystallize. Hence arises a preference among the dealers in Turkey for 

 attar of the mountain districts, which, having a good proportion of 

 stearoptene, will bear the larger dilution with grass oil without its 

 tendency to crystallize becoming suspiciously small. Thus, in the 

 circular of a commercial house in Constantinople, dated from Kizanlik, 

 occur the phrases — " Extra strong oil" — " Good strong congealing oil," 

 — " Strong good freezing oil; " — while the 3rd quality of attar is spoken 

 of as a " not congealing oil" The same circular states the belief of the 

 writers, that in the season in which they wrote, " not a single metical of 

 unadulterated oil" would be sent away. 



The chief criteria, according to Baur, for the purity of rose oil are : 

 — 1. Temperature at which crystallization takes place: a good oil 

 should congeal well in five minutes at a temperature of 12 "5° C. 2. 

 Manner of crystallizing. — The crystals should be light, feathery, shin- 

 ing plates, filling the whole liquid. Spermaceti, which has been 

 sometimes used to replace the stearoptene, is liable to settle down in a 

 solid cake, and is easily recognizable. Furthermore, it melts at 50" C. 



' Ann. de Chim. tt de Phys. liv. (1833) 394. - For particulars, see Baur (p. 262, noteS). 



