— 29 — 



is warmed, if necessary to start the action, which then proceeds some- 

 what vigorously. Next 3 g. of powdered potassium bromide is dropped 

 in through the condenser tube, the liquid boiled for ten minutes, cooled, 

 and 5 g. of caustic soda, dissolved in a little water, added in the same 

 manner. The liquid is then evaporated to dryness in a platinum vessel 

 and ignited. The residue is dissolved in water, nitric and nitrous acid 

 removed by evaporation with hydrochloric acid, and the sulphate deter- 

 mined in the usual way. 



According to Harrison and Self the best evidence of the value of 

 asofcetida is to calculate the sulphur-content of the oil for the drug after 

 deducting the ash. Present experience shows that the oil of the genuine 

 drug does not contain less than 1,5% of sulphur. 



Oil of Sweet Basil. This article continues to suffer from lack of 

 enquiry, and as a result there has been some accumulation of stock. 

 Offers of considerable quantities from some of the producing centres 

 appear to show that the distillation of the oil has again been taken up 

 somewhat more assiduously than formely. We must, however, earnestly 

 caution the producers against indulging in too optimistic anticipations of 

 the future of this article, for its consumption has decidedly decreased, 

 and even at a heavy sacrifice it would be very difficult to dispose of 

 large quantities. 



Bay Oil. The scarcity which we have had to chronicle for several 

 years past still continues, and the small arrivals which have come to hand 

 from time to time at Havre, Marseilles and Hamburg have always found 

 ready takers. Occasionally the supplies consisted of oil which had been 

 adulterated almost out of recognition, and scarcely deserved the name of 

 bay oil. Judging by the most recent advices the present conditions of 

 the market are likely to continue for some considerable time, inasmuch 

 as the native producers in the West Indian Islands have again begun to 

 complain that it is difficult to procure sufficient quantities of leaves. In 

 any case there is not the slightest prospect of our being able to resume 

 distilling operations here, which we regret the more because none of the 

 parcels of West Indian oil which have thus far come into our possession 

 even distantly approaches in quality our own distillate. We must limit 

 ourselves to the exercise of the greatest possible care in selection from 

 ^mong the supplies of oil which come to market, but in doing so we are 

 Tiot always able to satisfy all our customers' requirements in the matter 

 of prices, for it goes without saying that we ourselves have to pay pro- 

 portionately high rates for the finer qualities. In spite of the considerable 

 increase in price which we have been compelled to make, our exquisite 

 terpeneless bay oil continues to be in strong demand, which proves that 

 the high value of this product is justified by its excellence. 



