— I03 — 
important share owmg to abundant supplies purchased at favourable 
prices. The prices of crude menthol in Japan were maintained for 
several months at 22/- to 23/- per lb. On the other hand, the 
article for prompt delivery was here very scarce and in strong demand 
up to about the middle of August, when old supplies from Japan 
came on the market, and at the same time offers for early shipment 
of the new harvest were made. The new season's prices started at 
18/-, and gradually declined to 14/-, but the last-named quotation 
has only been maintained for a short time, as the movement in 
American oil has not left the price of menthol untouched. The 
Japanese are holding back, and the opinion of the article is generally 
very favourable. 
This product is constantly growing in importance. In future, as 
before, we shall be able to meet all competition, and we solicit enquiries^ 
as in view of the frequent fluctuations in prices, the quotations on our 
lists cannot always be taken as a guide. 
Menthyl acetate. A body, newly taken up by us, which has 
a pleasant refreshing odour. In view of the general demand for new 
preparations, this one may possibly be a welcome addition. A fairly 
brisk demand has recently also sprung up for menthyl valerianate 
(see p. 132 of this Report), whose medicinal action appears to be 
worthy of further examination. 
Musk, artificial *'Schimmel & Co." {Trinitroisohuiylxylene). 
Under this designation we have, after expiration of the respective patents, 
introduced a product which contains 100 per cent, musk, and which is 
free from any artificial admixture. This musk is consequently ten times 
richer than the hitherto -known musk "Baur", which according to the 
statements of the manufacturers themselves, contained only 10 per cent, 
musk and 90 per cent, admixture (antifebrin). 
Our musk has a specially fine odour, which very closely approaches 
that of natural musk. For this reason it comes a little higher in price 
than other makes. It dissolves, in the proportion of i in 200, in slightly 
warmed alcohol of 90 per cent., and also in the essential oils which 
are employed for the same purpose. 
We recommend this excellent preparation for comparative trials, 
and are convinced that it will be preferred over any other. 
Safrol. The value of this article has lately undergone no change, 
as the price of the raw material has rather hardened owing to the 
introduction of the camphor-monopoly in Japan. The Japanese safrol- 
competition does not appear to have come to anything up to the 
present. The rational manufacture is as difficult as the sale on a large 
scale; this may have been found out in Japan. For the rest, the 
