CHEMICAL PREPARATIONS AND DRUGS. 103 
Chemical Preparations and Drugs. 
Almond Oil, pressed, from Almonds (German Pharmacopceia V). The abnormal 
state of the sweet almond market has notoriously been due to the entire failure of 
the crop in Sicily, following a poor crop in the year 1912. Last year the Sicilian 
output only reached from 10 to 20 p.c. of the average, and in 1912 the yield was from 
one-half to two-thirds of a normal crop. In the face of these facts no further explana- 
tion is needed to account for the record-prices which prevailed in the year 1913. The 
highest figure, 285,50 -Z per 100 kilos cif Hamburg, was reached at the end of December. 
It goes without saying that, at such a fancy-price as 7,00 -#, buyers only showed 
a limited interest in our pressed almond oil, but in spite of this our stocks dwindled 
so rapidly as to compel us on several occasions to buy raw material at the high 
current prices. We see in this circumstance a proof of the excellence of our oil, which 
has become indispensable to many regular customers, not only among pharmacists. 
Fortunately the prospects for 1914 are favourable, and as a result there are, since 
the middle of February, cheap quotations in the market for almonds of the season 1914. 
No reports have yet been received concerning the state of things prevailing in Apulia. 
We are indebted to Messrs. Fratelli Jung, of Palermo, for the chart of the fluctua- 
tions in market-values during the period of high prices which will be found inserted 
between pp. 104 and 105, and we here express our thanks to them for this courtesy. 
Aimond Oil, pressed, from Apricot kernels. In view of the exceptional state 
of the almond-market, it is gratifying to be able to confirm the report that the apricot 
crop of 1913 in the district of Damascus (which furnishes almost exclusively the raw 
material pressed by us), has been very prolific. It was of course to be foreseen that 
prices would be well maintained, for by the time when the new crop was available 
practically no apricot-kernels from the previous year’s crop were left. Moreover, not 
only California, but China also has ceased for the time to be a source of supply. In 
California the crop was a failure, and although in China considerable quantities were 
available, it was impossible to bring them to the coast, partly because the roads in 
the interior were blocked by snow, and partly as a result of the generally unsatis- 
factory conditions prevailing there. As soon as the shipment of the Chinese kernels 
begins, the price of Damascene apricot kernels will probably recede somewhat, unless, 
contrary to expectation, the whole of the Damascene supply should by then have 
passed into the hands of the consumers. During the winter there has been a very 
sustained demand for our pressed almond oil from apricot kernels, and as, in spite of 
our large output, we are never accumulating any stocks worth mentioning, it is probable 
that we shall be unable to lower our quotations for some months to come. Naturally, 
the unsatisfactory conditions prevailing in the almond market greatly assist the sale 
of oil from apricot kernels. 
Benzoin. E. M. Holmes*) has published a synopsis of the references on the 
parent-plant of Siam benzoin which are scattered through literature. As we referred 
to this matter some time ago”), a mere mention of the article will here be sufficient. 
*) Pharmaceutical Journ. 91 (1913), 804. — 7%) Comp. Report April 1918, 114; October 1918, 116. 
