182 
1.137 to 1.150; and Ph. Anstr. VIII, 1.14 to 1.16 at 15° C. Caesar 
and Loretz themselves point out that the specific gravity of an other- 
wise unobjectionable balsam of Peru varies from 1.140 to 1.153 in 
commercial samples. — Geschafts-Ber. v. Caesar & Loretz, in Halle, 
a. S., 1906, p. 12. 
Weigel, G., points out that the Ph. Nell, requirements that balsam 
of Peru have a specific gravity of from 1.140 to 1.145 are low and 
that commercial samples frequently vary from 1.145 to 1.155. The 
lower specific gravity, he asserts, is also not in keeping with the 
requirements for cinnamein, which must not be less than 55 per cent. 
Natural balsams with 55 per cent of cinnamein always have a higher 
specific gravity than 1.145. — Pharm. Zentralh., 1906, v. 47, p. 398. 
An unsigned critique of the Ph. Nell. IV notes the requirement of 
55 to 80 per cent cinnamein. — Chem. & Drug., Lond., 1906, v. 68, 
p. 828. 
Evans Sons Lesclier and Webb found that the percentage of 
cinnamein in 17 commercial samples of balsam of Peru examined 
ranged from 52 to 60 per cent by the Ph. Brit. IV method of ex- 
traction. — Analytical Notes for 1906, 1907, p. 6. 
Weigel, G., believes that the variation in specific gravity of balsam 
of Peru from 1.140 to 1.160 (at 15° C.) corresponds with present-day 
requirements, as does the requirement for 55 per cent of cinnamein. 
A new test requires that balsam of Peru give a clear solution when 
mixed with 5 parts of 60 per cent solution of hydrated chloral. — 
Pharm. Zentralh., 1906, v. 47, p. 685. 
Caesar and Loretz suggest limiting the sj^ecific gravity of balsam 
of Peru to 1.140 to 1.153 at 15° C. They also point out that the 
sulphuric acid test is unreliable and superfluous, and outline a method 
for determining the saponification number, the ester number, and the 
recognition of the so-called “ synthetic balsam of Peru.” — Gescliafts- 
Ber., Caesar & Loretz, 1906, pp. 89-90. 
Hankey, William T., reports on 5 samples of balsam of Peru vary- 
ing in sp. gr. from 1.1450 to 1.1560, amount of cinnamein from 42 to 
50 per cent, and acid number from 66.3 to 75.3. He also criticises 
the official method for estimating cinnamein and believes that an 
aqueous solution of potassium hydroxide will give practically as good 
results as the alcoholic solution directed for determining the limit of 
acid resins. — Am. Druggist, N. Y., 1906, v. 49, p. 360. 
Utz discusses the determination of the saponification number of 
balsam of Peru and records a number of experiments in which he 
gives the comparative results obtained by hot and cold saponification. 
The results obtained by cold saponification are usually somewhat 
higher than those obtained by the use of heat. — Apotli. Ztg., Ber., 
1906, v. 21, p. 205. 
