COMMERCIAL NOTES AND SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION. 89 
As recently as in our last Report (p. 98) we mentioned a case of adulteration of 
sandalwood oil with glycerol acetate, and we are now again able to record another 
similar case. As in the previously-recorded instance, the sample was adulterated to 
to the point of being unrecognisable: dis0 1,0316, ~)» —-9°9’, acid v. 2,7, ester v. 221,6, 
soluble in 3 vols. a.m. of 70 p.c. alcohol. The quality of the oil may be judged 
without further examination from its excessive specific gravity and its abnormal ester 
value, which would correspond to a santalyl acetate content of over 100 p.c. 
The glycerol ester was removed from the oil by extracting with 5 p.c. alcohol, 
and was identified: from its constants after the separation of the solvent. It boiled at 
3,5 mm. press. between 117 and 119°, its specific gravity was 1,1784 (15°) and its 
ester value 065. It therefore appears to consist chiefly of diacetine. 
It is to be inferred both from the specific gravity and from the ester values of the 
oil before and after extraction with 5 p.c. alcohol that the addition of adulterant 
amounted to no less than 25 p.c. 
From the Imperial Institute in London we have received three samples of different 
sandalwood oils which are of special interest because they were produced in the island 
of Mauritius. Two of the samples were distilled from heart-wood, the third from sap- 
wood. As will be seen from the subjoined table, all three were distinguished by their 
high santalol-content, and their other characters also agreed with those of East Indian 
oil, except that the optical rotation was a little higher: — 
Ester- Ester v. Total 
santaiol after acet. santalol 
Heart-wood, pale 0,9786 —21°50’ 1,50098 1,9 5,6 2,2°%0  207,2 96,4 % 
me tee dark 0,9816°° 220955’ 150051 © 1,9 5,6 2:2%o 207,2 § 96,4 % 
Sap-wood, pale 0,9808 —21°15’ 1,50070 1,9 5,6 2.2% 2062  95,8%o 
Colour diso Op Np200 acid v. ester v. 
All the samples made a clear solution with 3,5 vols. a.m. of 70 p.c. alcohol. 
Sandalwood Oil, West Indian. Thanks to the excellent position in which we 
are situated for procuring sufficient quantities of wood, we have been able to meet 
to the full the extraordinarily sustained demand during the winter months. Large 
transactions have been carried through in all the selling markets at prices which 
exceeded those of the first half year of 1913. The position of the West Indian sandal- 
wood market is very firm, and customers who desire to benefit from our cheap stocks 
will do well not to wait too long. In the year 1913 we worked up about 300 tons of 
West Indian sandalwood, but at the moment we only have a moderate stock of oil 
available. 
Sarsaparilla Root Oil. F.B.Power and A.H.Salway*) have obtained 0,01 p.c. 
of essential oil from sarsaparilla roots derived from various species of Smilax 
(N. O. Liliacee). The oil occurred as a yellowish liquid with a pleasant odour: b.p. 
70 to 200° (15 mm.), d25 0,977, not completely soluble in 70 p.c. alcohol. The oil con- 
tained furfurol, and gave a blackish-blue colouration with ferric chloride, which points 
to the presence of a phenol. 
Sassafras Oil. There is nothing new to report about this oil; the prices have 
remained unchanged and no alteration in the tendency of the market appears to be 
in prospect. 
1) Journ. chem. Soc. 105 (1914), 205. 
