440 
Extracts  of  Vanilla  and  Lemon. 
f  Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
I  September.  1908. 
fluorescence  developed  on  the  surface  of  the  fruit  which  is  considered 
by  some  to  be  indicative  of  good  quality  and  is  often  imitated  in 
poorer  grades  by  a  coating  of  benzoic  acid.  This,  however,  may  be 
easily  detected  by  the  usual  benzoic  acid  tests.  This  method  of  esti- 
mation, for  the  most  part  however  may  not  be  taken  as  conclusive 
of  quality  for  the  Mexican,  without  the  fluorescence  has  been  found 
better  than  the  Bourbon  with  it. 
Although  all  these  points  are  to  be  taken  into  consideration,  the 
consensus  of  opinion  of  the  best  authorities  goes  to  show  that  a 
certain  peculiar  resin  is  the  chief  active  constituent  and  the  one 
sought  after,  hence  the  presence  of  this  indicates  a  good  grade  of 
flavoring  extract.  Although  attempts  have  persistently  been  made 
to  substitute  a  cheap  resin  for  this  one,  and  even  to  produce  it  syn- 
thetically, it  has  not  as  yet  been  done  with  sufficient  cleverness  to 
avoid  detection  if  the  proper  tests  be  applied.  Out  of  six  commercial 
brands  of  vanilla  extract  tested,  three  were  found  to  contain  some 
foreign  resin  in  a  greater  or  less  proportion.  (Article  in  Vol.  47, 
page  473,  Proceedings  of  the  American  Phannaceutical  Association^) 
Another  substitution  for  the  resin  has  been  found  in  cork-wood  in 
the  form  of  a  certain  tannin-like  substance,  which  under  certain  con- 
ditions is  capable  of  splitting  up  into  vanillin  and  other  substances. 
Upon  making  a  study  of  this  subject  one  finds  it  certainly  appall- 
ing to  know  the  great  variety  of  adulterations  used ;  in  some  in- 
stances even  acetanilide  being  found  present. 
Although  on  account  of  its  popularity,  we  have  treated  chiefly  ol 
vanilla,  it  is  not  alone  the  extract  whose  formula  is  the  subject  of 
abuse,  for  it  has  been  as  fully  demonstrated  that  the  others  have  been 
adulterated  with  equal  cleverness,  and  most  especially  that  of  lemon. 
For  this  reason,  in  this  great  age  of  scientific  advancement  one  must 
be  constantly  on  the  alert  for  those  greedy  in  their  deceptive 
practices. 
It  may  be  asked,  where  would  a  person  go  to  find  a  pure  extract  ? 
We  would  say,  to  the  drug  store  and  surely  not  to  the  grocery. 
For  where  is  there  a  class  of  people  more  capable  of  judging  the 
quality  of  this  line  of  goods  than  the  druggist  who  has  made  this 
line  of  work  his  life  study  and  hence  is  not  so  apt  to  be  the  subject 
of  a  fraudulent  graft.  And  too,  in  cases  of  necessity,  he  is  capable 
of  manufacturing  his  own  flavorings,  thus  being  able  to  personally 
guarantee  the  quality. 
