Amsep^'I87h8arm' }  Gleanings  from  the  German  Journals.  451 
turbid,  but  immediately  becomes  clear  when  shaken  with  a  small  quan- 
tity of  sodium  carbonate,  previously  heated  to  redness. 
While  purifying  5  kilos  of  chloroform,  Werner  continued  the  dis- 
tillation until  90  grams  remained  in  the  retort,  which  gradually  separ- 
ated yellow,  small  drops,  possessing  the  characteristic  odor  of  fusel  oil. 
On  carefully  distilling  this  residue  the  boiling  point  remained  constant 
at  62°C.  until  only  4  or  5  grams  were  left,  when  it  quickly  rose  to 
66°C.  The  residue,  on  being  now  treated  with  sulphuric  acid  and 
potassium  bichromate,  yielded  valerianic  acid. — Archiv  d.  Pbarm.y 
June,  1878,  p.  481. 
Adulteration  of  Etherial  Oils. — Leonhardi  considers  the  usual 
test  for  adulteration  with  alcohol,  which  consists  of  mixing  the  suspected 
oil  in  a  graduated-tube  with  water,  and  then  observing  the  increase  or 
decrease  in  bulk  of  the  latter,  reliable,  but  objectionable  and  unadvis- 
able  for  expensive  oils  on  account  of  the  unavoidable  waste  of  the 
latter.  He  prefers  the  anilin  test,  which  is  applied  by  dropping  a  little 
of  the  suspected  oil  on  a  crystal  of  anilin  red,  when  the  presence  of 
alcohol  is  immediately  indicated  by  a  red  coloration.  The  following 
adulterations  were  noticed  by  Leonhardi,  who  found  the  tests  men- 
tioned in  connection  with  them  reliable  : 
Fennel  oil  stearopten  is  imported  from  Russia  for  adulterating  oil  of 
anise^  often  to  the  extent  of  90  per  cent.,  because  it  likewise  solidifies 
at  a  low  temperature  ;  it  develops,  however,  a  very  characteristic  odor 
of  fennel,  when  heated,  which  easily  betrays  the  adulteration. 
Oil  of  coriander  is  extensively  adulterated  with  colorless  rectified  oil 
of  orange,  which  can  be  detected  by  its  insolubility  in  90  per  cent, 
alcohol,  in  which  pure  coriander  oil  dissolves  in  every  proportion ; 
equal  parts  of  oil  of  orange  and  90  per  cent,  alcohol  makes  a  turbid 
mixture. 
Oil  of  bergamot  is  adulterated  with  oil  of  orange;  the  insolubility  of  oil 
of  orange  and  the  solubility  of  oil  of  bergamot  in  90  per  cent,  alcohol 
also  furnish  a  method  of  detection  in  this  case. 
Oil  of  caraway  is  often  mixed  with  oil  of  caraway-chaff",  which  again 
is  adulterated  with  oil  of  turpentine.  Pure  oil  of  caraway  dissolves  in 
90  per  cent,  alcohol,  while  it  forms  a  cloudy  mixture  if  adulterated  with 
turpentine.  The  behavior  to  iodine  and  the  odor  are  often  sufficient  to 
prove  the  adulteration. 
