— 92 — 



Furthermore, Gibbs 1 ) determined the solubility of methyl salicylate 

 in water and in 1 / 10 normal sulphuric acid at 30 ° C. The former 

 solubility was found to be on the average 0,074 g, the latter 0,077 &> 

 each for 100 cc. solvent. 



We can only briefly mention here an article by G. R. Pan coast 

 and W. A. Pearson 2 ) on methods for distinguishing between natural 

 and artificial methyl salicylate. We abstain from a detailed description 

 of the process, because the methods indicated are hardly likely to 

 effect their object in a manner which is at all desirable for practical 

 purposes. 



Wormwood Oil. The scarcity of French oil, which has arisen 

 from causes which we have already explained, has become more and 

 more pronounced, and as our supplies grew less we were compelled 

 to raise the prices in proportion. It will probably be necessary shortly 

 to look forward to the entire disappearance of this article from com- 

 merce. American oil also remains very scarce and dear, and has 

 again advanced in price, which is not surprising, seeing that the demand 

 *or this variety has naturally become greater lately. 



To the statements made in our Report April 1908, 119, on the 

 projected prohibition of absinthe throughout the Swiss Confederacy, we 

 are now able to add the information that as the result of the Referendum 

 of 5 th July 1908, the Swiss People have passed a resolution prohibiting, 

 as from October 7 th 1908, the manufacture, importation, transport, sale, 

 and storage for the purposes of sale, throughout Switzerland, of the 

 liqueur known as "absinthe". 



The prohibition also applies to all beverages, by whatever other 

 name they may be called, which are imitations of this liqueur. Only 

 the transit trade and the use for medicinal purposes are still permitted. 

 The Act comes into force two years after the date of its passing, that 

 is to say, on October 7 th , 19 10. The executive of the Confederacy 

 is empowered to issue similar prohibitions in respect of all other 

 beverages containing absinthe which constitute a public danger. 3 ) 



L. Duparc and A. Monnier 4 ) have modified Legal's test (re- 

 commended by Rocques 5 ) for the determination of thujone in liqueurs, 

 and they claim that their method obviates a confusion of thujone 

 with other compounds, including citral. The process is as follows: 



x ) Philippine Journ. of Sc. 3 (1908), A. 357. 

 2 ) Americ. Journ. Pharm. 80 (1908), 407. 

 8 ) Chemische Industrie 32 (1909), 134. 



4 ) Ann. chim. analyt. appl. 13 (1908), 378. Quoted from a copy kindly sent 

 to us. 



5 ) Comp. Report November 1908, 127. 



