— 28 — 
25%, and we now hope to be in a position to meet the constantly 
growing demand. The prevailing difficult local conditions are unfortun- 
ately opposed to an actual production on a large scale. 
Supplementing the information contained in our last Report with 
regard to the character of the adulterant employed in Ceylon, we are 
now in a position to state that our examinations in this direction made 
with a very large quantity of citronella oil, have shown that the oil 
examined by us had been adulterated with petroleum, and not with 
resin-spirit. 
The decisive point in this connection was for us the possibility of 
detecting metacymol, a substance discovered by Kelbe^) in resin-spirit. 
After repeatedly fractionating the first runnings of citronella oil, the 
portions boiling between 170° and 180° were finally taken for further 
examination. 1000 grams of the fraction were in the first place, for 
the purpose of removing the terpenes, treated in the cold with dilute 
permanganate solution, until the latter, even after a prolonged period, 
showed no discolouration. 
The oil not attacked was driven over with steam and distilled 
over sodium so as to remove oxygenated portions. Thus resulted 
about 30 grams oil of the following constants: 
di5° =0,8071; a^== — o''4'] np2oo= 1,44428. 
Apart from the fact that these constants do not agree with those 
given by Kelbe^) and Wallach^) for metacymol, the oil, when oxidised 
with permanganate solution at increased temperature, did not yield the 
oxypropyl benzoic acid characteristic of metacymol. 
From these results we must conclude that at least the citronella 
oil worked up by us had been adulterated with petroleum. 
During the frequent controversies regarding the extensive adulteration 
of Ceylon citronella oil, the value of ''Schimmel's test" forjudging 
these oils has repeatedly been discussed. Whilst this method has met 
with decided recognition on the part of experts, we have frequently 
heard complaints from the side of merchants about the difficulties with 
which they have thereby to contend in Ceylon, especially with regard 
to maintaining the correct temperature required for the observation. 
We admit that with the high temperature of the air in Ceylon, it 
is difficult to maintain a constant temperature of 20° for many hours, 
and we would point out that a constant temperature for observation 
is not absolutely necessary, — in fact, it may fluctuate within a few 
degrees below 20°, which no doubt can be attained without much 
1) Liebig's Annalen 210 (1881), 10. 
^) Loc. cit. 
^) Liebig's Annalen 275 (1893), 159. 
