AmMSi8^m'}      Beeswax,  Petrolatum  Mo  lie,  etc.  143 
Two  French  chemists  have  recently  made  numerous  comparative 
tests  with  petrolatum,  and  came  to  the  conclusion  that  this  article 
was  highly  adulterated  with  fatty  substances  of  both  animal  and 
vegetable  origin.  For  easily  detecting  this  sophistication  5  drops 
of  a  saturated  solution  of  potassium  permanganate  are  added  to  5 
grams  of  petrolatum,  in  a  glass  or  porcelain  mortar  and  triturated. 
If  the  petrolatum  is  pure  the  rose-red  color  is  persistent ;  if  saponifi- 
able  fats  or  oils  are  present  the  color  becomes  cljestnut-brown.  The 
intensity  of  the  color  is  directly  proportional  to  the  percentage  of 
admixture. 
I  applied  the  permanganate  test  to  each  of  the  above  samples, 
but  no  chestnut-brown  was  obtained  in  any  case. 
ROCK  CANDY  SYRUP._ 
"  Rock  Candy  Syrup  "  is  generally  considered  to  be  the  evaporated 
mother-liquor  obtained  in  the  process  of  manufacturing  "  Rock 
Candy."  This.product  necessarily  contains  more  or  less  reducing 
sugar.  We  must  remember,  however,  that  this  article  is  also  prepared 
by  dissolving  granulated  sugar  itself  in  a  specified  quantity  of  water, 
sometimes  using  an  antiseptic.  A  certain  manufacturer  informed 
me  that  he  used  one  ounce  of  salicylic  acid  for  every  500  gallons  of 
syrup.  I  was  unable  to  detect  it,  however,  even  after  having  been 
informed  concerning  its  employment. 
This  commodity  has  largely  come  into  use  in  this  country  within 
recent  years.  Being  differently  prepared  by  various  producers  it 
necessarily  varies  in  composition.  In  view  of  these  facts  it  behooves 
us  to  examine  carefully  every  sample  before  employing  it  for  any 
use. 
Some  workers  have  expressed  themselves  quite  adversely  con- 
cerning this  product,  calling  it  worthless  and  not  deserving  a  place 
in  the  drug  market.  Certain  examiners  while  in  quest  of  a  pure 
rock  candy  syrup  called  the  work  "monotonous"  since  the  danger 
signal  flashed  in  every  case,  even  with  rock  candy  itself.  While  I 
realize  that  he  who  shuts  his  eyes  to  the  adulteration  of  drugs  is 
not  the  pharmacists'  friend,  yet  I  contend  that  it  is  not  just  to  con- 
demn all  rock  candy  syrups  because  a  few  are  spurious. 
I  have  examined  a  fair  number  of  samples  and  find  the  percentage 
of  good  rock  candy  syrup  as  high  as  that  of  other  goods  handled  by 
druggists.    Below  you  will  find  a  table  recording  the  results  of  a 
