56 REPORT OF SCHIMMEL & Co. OCTOBER 1915. 
Kaolin and clay, used for giving body to soap, belong to the substances inclined a 
to be colloidal. If ammonia solution is shaken with kaolin, it takes the characteristic 
smell of kaolin, whereas the kaolin smells of ammonia. 
Talc (magnesium silicate) is most sensitive in this respect. It absorbs pena 
in a very short time, and if it is then rubbed on the hands the smell lasts considerably 
longer than if the perfume itself had been used. 
Bibliography. 
In April this year the first number was published of the Deutsche Parfiimerie-Zeitung, ; 
Zentralorgan zur Forderung deutscher Parfiimerie- Erzeugnisse und verwandter Artikel. 
The edition of a periodical of importance in this line is to be welcomed with joy, the 
more so as such a one did not exist here so far. The fact that its publication started 
during the great war is a sign of the favourable economic condition of our country. 
H. Schelenz published in the Deutsche Parfiimerie-Zeitung [Vol. 1 (1915), 29, 52, 
75, 97, 117, 139, 161, 224] an article entitled “Contributions to the Knowledge about 
Cosmetics in the sixteenth century (according to Shakespeare’s works)”, in which there 
are to be found numerous interesting indications as to the use of perfumes and cos- 
metics in antiquity and the middle ages. 
There is an annual report by A. Reclaire in the Zeitschrift fiir angewandte Chemie 
[ Vol. 28 (1915), I. 369] on the progress in the chemistry of essential oils and aromatics. 
E. Kremers‘) rendered in a clear and concise manner the most important facts out 
of the section ‘Cymbopogon oils” of the book The Volatile Oils. After an introduction 
he discusses the history and the production of these oils and then gives in the form 
of tables a review of the occurrence of the components, of the composition of the 
oils and, with the aid of the structural formulas, of the relationship of the most 
frequent components. He thinks that such a digest of the whole book will facilitate for 
the student of chemistry and the pharmacist the understanding of the interesting domain 
_ Of the essential oils. 
Analytical Notes. 
Beilstein’s copper oxide test for halogens. 
In order to test synthetic camphor for chlorinated products, E. Richter?) recommends, 
as Stephan*®) did some years ago, Beilstein’s copper oxide method, but does not use 
solid copper oxide, as Beilstein indicates, but a piece of copper wire netting of 
1:0.5 cm. H. Kunz-Krause*) thinks it more correct, however, to adhere to Beilstein’s ; 
original prescription, as the oxygen of the copper oxide is necessary for the formation ] 
of the copper halide, for which a body consisting entirely of copper oxide offers 
better guarantees than copper wire netting, which will always be oxidized on the sur- 
face only. If the test is carried out with copper oxide pieces, natural camphor and 
synthetic camphor free from chlorine do not show the slightest trace of green colouring. 
However, copper wire netting being used instead of copper oxide, now and then, at 
1) The Druggist’s Circular, June 1915, p. 355. — *) Apotheker Ztg. 80 (1915), 14. — %) Berichte d. deutsch. 
pharm. Ges. 19 (1909), 228, 230; Report October 1909, 33. — *) Apotheker Ztg. 30 (1915), 141. 
