142 
Recent  Drug  Adulterations. 
/Am.  Jour.  Pharm 
I      March,  1902. 
and  somewhat  heavier  than  water.  In  water  they  quickly  disinte- 
grate, dissolving  in  part ;  the  remaining  portion  subsides  in  the  form 
of  powder.  One  variety  consisted,  for  the  most  part,  of  starch 
mixed  with  soluble  binding  material.  Another  variety  appeared  to 
come  from  an  olive-oil  industry,  where  the  residue,  which  appears 
in  commerce  as  "  sansa,"  was  utilized.  The  surface  of  the  black 
berries  was  covered  by  means  of  sand-colored  black.  Both  varieties 
manifest  a  burning  taste,  which  was  due  to  the  admixture  of  a  little 
paprika. — Schweiz.  Wochenschr.  f.  Chem.u.  Pharm.,  39,  1901. 
BEESWAX. 
As  usual,  beeswax  has  contributed  its  quota  of  samples,  more  or 
less  adulterated,  as  the  following  results  will  show: 
Melting 
Specific  Gravity 
Acid 
Tether 
Kind. 
Point. 
at  150  C. 
No. 
No. 
White  .  . 
.  640  C. 
0*926 
6-2 
66-6 
Yellow  . 
.  640  c. 
0-938 
I2'9 
60  9 
Yellow  . 
•  55°  C. 
0-9138 
10-9 
22'6 
The  above  data  clearly  indicate  that  the  samples  examined  were 
liberally  adulterated  with  ceresin,  although  this  is  not  the  only  adul- 
terant added,  as  is  clearly  seen  by  the  ratio  that  exists  between  the 
acid  and  the  ether  numbers.  Tallow  or  a  similar  substance,  which 
will  bring  up  the  ether  number  and  not  the  acid  number,  is  mani- 
festly indicated  by  some  of  the  above  figures. 
OIL  OF  WORMWOOD. 
Quite  a  considerable  quantity  of  this  oil  has  been  found  adulter- 
ated, the  usual  diluent  being  turpentine.  The  following  results 
were  obtained  while  making  an  examination  of  a  number  of  samples 
submitted : 
Solution  of  1st  10  Per  Cent. 
Specific  Gravity  Solution  in  2  Vols.  of  Distillate  in  2  Vols,  of 
No.                       at  150  C.  So  Per  Cent.  Alcohol.  80  Per  Cent.  Alcohol. 
i  0-9128  insoluble.  insoluble. 
2  0*9104  "  • ' 
3  0*9362  soluble.  soluble. 
4  0-9071  insoluble.  insoluble. 
5  0*9262  soluble.  soluble  in  2-3  vol. 
6  0*9299  "   
7  0*9364       .  "  soluble. 
8  0-9112  insoluble.  insoluble. 
The  normal  properties  of  oil  of  wormwood  are  :  a  somewhat  viscid 
liquid  of  a  dark-green  color,  odor  unpleasant  and  taste  somewhat 
