86 
Book  Reviews. 
f  Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
\  February,  1914. 
and  bergamot,  they  give  "  to  them  the  appearance  of  containing  far 
more  linalyl  acetate  than  the  oils  possess  in  reality." 
In  this  report  the  statement  is  made  that  there  are  firms  who  do 
not  hesitate  to  offer  such  esters  openly  for  purposes  of  adulteration. 
Furthermore,  it  is  stated  that  one  firm  made  such  an  offer  to  the 
Schimmel  people  in  writing  who  publish  this  communication  in  the 
original  language  and  a  translation  of  which  follows : 
Gentlemen  : 
For  some  years  past  we  have  been  in  the  habit  of  supplying  to 
lavender  growers  a  product  called  "  Ether  L." 
The  advantage  of  this  article  is  that  it  simulates  in  a  perfect 
manner  essential  oil  of  lavender,  and  we  have  judged  it  opportune 
to  forward  you  to-day  a  sample  of  it  by  post.  The  price  is  12.50 
francs  per  kilo  delivered  at  your  works. 
If  this  product  should  interest  you  by  any  chance,  please  let  us 
know  what  quantities  of  it  you  would  be  able  to  use  annually. 
Hoping  to  hear  from  you  we  are,  &c, 
N.  V.  Polak  &  Schwarz's, 
Essence  Fabrieken, 
Zaandam  ( Holland ) . 
P.  S. — Our  Ether  L.  is  pure  and  contains  100  p.  c< 
Subsequent  examination  of  this  product  showed  that  instead  of 
being  100  per  cent,  it  revealed  a  percentage  of  86.    The  presence  of 
this  ester  in  lavender  oil  would  not  prove  difficult  of  detection. 
The  high  price  of  menthol  also  proved  a  stimulus  to  those  of  dis- 
honest tendencies.  Two  samples  examined  showed  100  per  cent, 
adulteration.  Both  were  acetanilid,  one  scented  with  menthol  and 
the  other  with  peppermint  oil.  Under  the  name  Mentholin  there  is 
being  offered  to  the  trade  a  substitute  for  menthol  made  by  a  firm 
in  Prague  which  proved  to  be  80  per  cent,  acetanilid  and  oily 
menthol. 
This  report  consists  of  151  pages  of  interesting  matter,  the 
greater  part  of  which  is  devoted  to  commercial  notes  and  scientific 
information  pertaining  to  essential  oils ;  practically  every  oil  used  in 
pharmacy  and  in  the  manufacture  of  perfumery  is  touched  upon  as 
to  source  of  production,  supply,  and  conditions,  favorable  and  other- 
wise, which  may  have  had  some  influence  on  quality  or  lack  of 
quality. 
Considerable  attention  is  given  to  recent  scientific  research  in 
