— 6i — 



Another case mentioned by G. Wendt 1 ) deals with the use of 

 adulterated sandal oil for the manufacture of sandal oil capsules, an 

 occurrence to which we have repeatedly drawn attention in our last 

 Reports 2 ). The examination showed that the capsules in question 

 contained not only an adulterated oil, but also nearly 3O°/ less oil 

 than was stated on the box. The manner of adulteration could not 

 be ascertained. The manufacturer of the capsules contests the adult- 

 eration, but admitted that he had not used oil of best quality, with. 

 the explanation that only an oil had been guaranteed which would 

 answer the requirements of the German Pharmacopoeia IV, and which > 

 as a matter of fact, the oil in question did answer. 



We would add here that we have repeatedly observed, that in- 

 ferior or adulterated sandalwood oils can pass the requirements of the 

 German Pharmacopoeia IV, and that it would therefore be advisable 

 in a new edition of the Pharmacopoeia at least to add the specif- 

 ication of the santalol content of the oil. We take this opportunity 

 to point out once more, that in calculating the santalol content, we 

 have taken as a basis the formula C 15 Hg4 O which according to later 

 investigations 3 ) has been recognised as more correct. In an oil with 

 a santalol content of 90 °/ and higher, it gives an advantage of about 

 i°/ to the older formula C 15 Hgg O. 4 ). We have hitherto always 

 made our statements in accordance with the more correct formula,, 

 and will continue to do so. Possible differences may thus be explained. 



Sassafras Oil, It is well known that sassafras oil is required 

 to be soluble in every proportion in 90 per cent, alcohol. As we 

 have repeatedly handled oils obtained from a reliable source, which 

 showed a slightly lower solubility, we have distilled a sassafras oil 

 ourselves — from the root-bark of Sassafras officinale Nees — , in 

 order to test the correctness of the above-mentioned requirement. 

 We then found, in agreement with our observations made on good 

 commercial oils, that 1 to 2 vol. 90 per cent, alcohol are necessary 

 to dissolve 1 vol. sassafras oil, although of course it cannot be denied 

 that there are oils which are soluble in every proportion in 90 per 

 cent, alcohol. The remaining properties of the distillate obtained by 

 us were: bright yellow, di 5 o 1,075, a v-\- 2° 14'; ester number 1,9. The 

 yield of oil amounted to 3,25 °/ . 



Savin Oil. It is a well known fact that there exist considerable 

 differences between the savin oils of German and British origin on 

 the one hand, and the French distillate on the other, so that we have 



*) Pharm. Zeitg. 50 (1905), 898. 



2 ) Report October 1903, 63; October 1904, 83; April 1905, 72. 



3 ) Comp. Report October 1900, 58. 



4 ) Comp. the table in Report April 1903, 106. 



