40 Report of Schimmel $ Co. April 1913. 



15th September 1912 3/7 Va cif. 1st January 1913 3/5 1 /* cif. 



1st October 1912 3/6 1 /* „ 15th „ 1913 3/5 



15th ,, 1912 3/6 „ 1 st February 1913 3/4 ] / 2 „ 



1st November 1912 3/6 „ 15th „ 1913 3/5 



15th „ 1912 3/6 „ 1st March 1913 3/3 



1st December 1912 3/6 „ 15th „ 1913 3/4 



15th „ 1912 3/5//? „ 



These figures show that the irregular course of prices in the summer of 1912 has 

 been succeeded by a fall in values, which, however, has been restricted within narrow 

 limits. At present the tendency does not point to a further weakening of the market 

 and it therefore appears to be advisable to cover requirements for the next few months, 

 inasmuch as business is brisk, and a return towards higher rates may easily take place. 



Several years ago 1 ) we pointed out that cassia oils adulterated with colophony were 

 continually being placed upon the market, and that even in oils with a high aldehyde- 

 content this form of sophistication was observable. 



As already stated by us at the time, such oils show a higher proportion of distil- 

 lation-residue (over 11 p. c), and a higher acid value than do pure oils; moreover, when 

 the sophisticated oils are dissolved in three parts of 70 p. c. alcohol with a saturated 

 solution of lead acetate in alcohol of similar strength, a precipitate is thrown down, 

 whereas no precipitate occurs in the absence of colophony. We endeavoured to put 

 a stop to the supply of adulterated oils by placing in the hands of our Hong-Kong 

 friends the necessary means and instructions to enable them to check the adulteration 

 in the country of production itself. Much to our satisfaction we were soon able to 

 ascertain an improvement in the quality of the oils' 2 ). In spite of all, however, we 

 were unable to prevent the occasional supply to us of qualities which, while showing 

 an aldehyde-content of from 80 to 85 p. c, did not stand the lead-acetate test, and this 

 occasionally caused an animated correspondence between our Hong-Kong friends and 

 ourselves. Such a correspondence took place recently, when we were informed that, 

 try as much as they might, oils which stood the test, i. e. which were entirely free from 

 colophony, were at times unobtainable. 



We think that the incomplete result of our endeavours is due to the fact that the 

 insistence upon a cassia oil entirely free from colophony is not so general as would 

 be desirable. Buyers content themselves with an oil containing from 80 to 85 p. c. of 

 aldehyde, without enquiring whether or no it contains small proportions of colophony. 

 In consequence the Chinese are able to dispose of their oil when it contains colophony, 

 and this pays them better than if they were compelled to sell an entirely pure oil at 

 the same price. 



It therefore affords us much satisfaction to observe that, according to all appearance, 

 buyers in England are also about to take energetic measures against the malpractice 

 in question. An English journal 3 ) has^aken up the movement for the suppression of 

 this form of adulteration. It starts from the assertion that cassia oil containing from 

 80 to 85 p. c. of aldehyde very often also contains colophony (rosin) and that from 

 this it may be indirectly inferred (and may be surmised from the fact that samples 

 with an aldehyde-content of from 88 to 93 p. c. are met with), that the natural oil is 

 probably of an aldehyde value of well over 85 p. c. The question has become parti- 



*) Report April 1904, 19. — -) Ibidem October 1905, 17. — 3 ) Perfum. and Essent. Oil Record 3 (1912), 

 210; 4 (1913), 1. 



