Adulterations and Tests. If the honey be thin and slow to crystallize, it is probably adulterated with water. Honey is also liable to be adulterated by the addition of solution of cane sugar, or of glucose syrup. The presence and quantity of cane sugar may be established by determining the reducing power of the honey in question upon Fehling's solution before and after inversion with diluted hydrochloric acid. An increased reduction after inversion is due to the presence of cane sugar.
Honey has a faintly acid reaction toward litmus paper.
Yet, genuine honey, being of variable composition, may contain, as stated before, large quantities of dextrin as a natural constituent. In this connection, see the elaborate researches on the chemistry of honey, by 0. The so-called Eucalyptus honey of Australia, for which its discoverer, D. Guilmeth, and his followers, claimed the virtue of containing large amounts of eucalyptol, proved to be a misrepresentation. Action, Medical Uses, and Dosage. Used in urinary affections , and as an addition to gargles, lotions, injections, etc.