— 62 — 
English oils are not normal distillates, but only fractions, whose specific 
gravity in many cases is below 0,885. 
Observations made during the last three years with oils pro- 
duced at Mitcham by submitting 1^2 tons freshly cut lavender with 
1200 gallons water to distillation, led to the result that the first 
portion of distillate, which was separated after three hours' distillation, 
differs slightly from the portions subsequently passing over. The freshly 
distilled first portion seldom possesses the specific gravity required by 
the British Pharmacopoeia, and has a lower ester-content than the 
second distillate, which, in spite of its somewhat higher ester-content, 
has a less agreeable odour than the portions passing over first. But 
the specific gravity of the latter, after keeping them for two to three 
years, had increased from 0,881 to 0,885 0,886. Contrary to these 
oils, an oil destilled from fresh lavender from another district, which 
had been collected without separating, during an observation-period of 
five years constantly answered the requirements of the British Pharma- 
copoeia. It appears to Umney that the nature of the soil and the 
situation of the producing districts have a distinct influence upon the 
characters of lavender oil, as oil distilled in precisely the same manner 
in the Warlingham district had a higher specific gravity than oil from 
Mitcham lavender. In conclusion, Umney considers the minimum 
specific gravity limit of 0,883, conjointly with the other characters, as 
sufficient to ensure practically an unsophisticated oil. 
Linaloe Oil. Up to the present, demand and supply have ap- 
proximately been equal. The trade is now chiefly in the hands of a 
few firms in Mexico and Puebla, who are said to have difficulties in 
obtaining supplies, as the oil is distilled by Indians with whom inter- 
course is said to be difficult. The present state of the market is firm, 
with an upward tendency. 
We estimate the annual production at about 20000 kilos. From 
1 90 1 to 1902 the exports from Mexico were 14000 kilos, value 
37046 silver dollars. 
Oil of Monodora myristica. The seed of Monodora myristica 
Dunal, which is highly valued by the aborigines of the West Coast of 
Africa as a spice and medicine, contains in addition to fat an essential 
oil, on which Thoms^) reports more in detail. On distillation with 
steam under pressure, the yield of oil amounts to about 7^/^. The 
oil has a yellow colour, shows a greenish-yellow fluorescence, has a 
very pleasant odour, and the specific gravity 0,896 at 20°. The 
specific rotation amounts to — 64,96°. The oil, from which the free 
acids and the phenols (present in very small quantity) had been 
^) Berichte der deutsch. pharm. Ges. 14 (1904), 24. 
