Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-09-18
ABOUT IMPURE OILS.
THE WORK OF ApuLTERATloN
SHOWN UP IN MESSINA
by Mr.. Charles NJ. Csughey, Uncle Sans
Consul There-Littie OIL Pure
Now--The Vile Work.
A recent Washington special to the


with the researches made by United States
Consul Charles NJ. Caughey at Messina,
Italy. into the adulteration OF Sicilian
essential oils OF lemon. orange. bergamot.
mandsr rim and bitter orange. which are
shipped TO this country In large quanti-
ties.
Mr.. Caughey IL n well-known Baltimo-
rean, and was appointed TO the consulate
IN question last fall. He was at one time
editor OF the Baltimore Every Saturday.
MIR. Caughey has attacked the essential
oil industry vigorously. and reforms nave
already been instituted by reason OF the
publicity he has given the subject. lie
has had two reports OF his Investigations
published-one in the May number OF the
consular reports and the other in the
September number-advance sheets OF
which have Just been issued. He states
that his attention was drawn to the SUD
iect by an article In the British ana + or
eign Confectloner. which IL reproduced IN
the first report This article complains Oh
the prevalence OF the authorizations, Dut
does not suggest any remedy.
after reading this" says Mr.. Caughey
in his report. 1T occurred 10 me that the
subject warranted an attempt on my part
TO either verify or disprove the state
rnents of authorizations. 1t was my orisi-
nal intention personally to visit several
of the Laboratories but II took me only
very few minutes to realize that what
has taxed the ability OF the best Euro
pean chemists for years-the detection OF
adulteration in essences-coud not be ac-
compllshed in one visit by the Verles'
tvro in the chemists art ] then con-
cluded that the best course that, as lay
man, / could pursue would be 10 secure
the expressions OF the merchants them-
selves. over their own signatures. 10
that end / addressed circular-letter 10
all the manufacturers and shippers OF
essences in Messina.
Then follows letter under date OF
January &. 1894. in which he states his
object, and asks whether there are manu-
featured in and exported from Messlna
any absolutely-pure essential oils OF
lemon. orange, bergamot, mandarin. or
bitter-Orange; what is the lowest price
In gold at which absolutcly-pure essential
oils can be exported TO the United states.
to what countries the best grades OF
essential oils are exported; what are the
adulterants of essential oils: and whether
any brands are guaranteed free from any
authorizations whatsoever, specifications,
and to what countries they are exported.
being asked.
Mr.. Caughey received eleven compre-
| henslvc replies from manufacturers and
shippers of essential oils most of them
admitting authorizations. but indicating
that they would be glad 10 cooperate in
I some move to improve the status OF the
/ business. a sample reply was as follows
| from John Soto &, Co.. who deal with the
subject with more or less frankness:
OILS MIXED WITH TURPENTINE.
1--WE cannot admit that there are m
! pure oils made and shipped genuinely
/ The prices. per English pound (packet
and free on board at Messina) for rea
pure essences at the present time, should
be about 81 for lemon. S.l5 for orange
and $3.50 for bergamot. Pure essences, as
well as adulterated. so to all parts o.
! the world. At one time the purest were
/ forwarded to the United States. but since
adulterators Of oils have found their way
| TO the United States. and while, unfor
tunately, most of the American deaier
| (who seem unable to distinguish the pur'
from the adulterated) look chiefly to price
we may promptly venture TO say ina
NOWADAYS the largest quantity of essence
going there IS absolutely mixture o
essential with turpentine oils The adul
terants are VIGOROUSLY oil OF turpentin'
and mineral oils
In Mr. Caughey's second report, under
date Of June 18TH he says:
THAT the consumers Of essential oils
are not the only persons interested II
! putting Il stop to their adulteration. Il
| evidenced by the fact that last week. in
the Italian Chamber OF Deputies. SignorI
! Boseni and Fulci (the latter represent
| ing Messina). made strenuous efforts L
have an almost prohlbitory duty put upor
| French turpentne."
Oil OF turpentine. as shown In SOHO
letter. is the chief adulterant used. |
can be used to an extent Of 30 per cent
without being discovered by the ordinary
tests, particularly In the oil Of lemon, a.
both belong to the same family Of tur
penes The report continues:
They claim that the use made OF thl
article is almost solely 10 blame for th'
depression that now prevails in Sicily
The adulterant, It is contended, takes tn
place Of just so much essence, and eacl
pound Of turpentne used deprives III
! Sicilian peasant of the sale Of 1000 o
the fruit.
THE man who Is shrewd enough to fois
upon his customers adulterated goods,
equally shrewd In covering his tracks
and he takes care not 10 import the tur
pentine In his own name. Very littl
French turpentine is imported directi
into Messina, the greater portion entering
Italy at Genoa in small lots consigned
different individuals. The duty paid there
= II Immediately takes the name OF DIV
oil for machinery purposes, or some othe
= fluid and is shipped 10 Messina, but no
addressed 10 the manufacturer or essence
Upon three barrels imported last Weef
FOR instance, the addressee was the porte
, OF one Of the largest essence exporters
! the city. There is but one firm in Mes
: sina that is known to deal in turpenth
= and other ddulterants.
. "But while many of the shippers her
: undoubtedly adulterate, to greater c
: less degree, all the manipulation, IT
claimed. does not occur in Messina-
l | the walls Of the cellars OF some OF the in
+ , porters in the United States (say the shiI
, ! pers) could talk they would tell a MAJ
, | yellous tale. A gentleman who, am sur
ships as pure essence as leaves Messin;
| AYERS that New York importer, VII
| buys thousands Of coppers from him ever
3. year. advertises and sells essence at
= lower figure than he pays for IL. The'
{ Is but one solution 10 this mystery-an
c that is that for every copper of pure e
s sence two OF adulterated are bought.
: asked him why he did not protest, an
his reply was. that he could not amor
= to lose a good customer"
5 Mr. Caughey then shows that America
g dealers have the remedy for these imp
r sitions In their own hands:
\ REMEDY SUGGESTED.
=, "Such practices can be stopped by Sc
|. oral methods, one Of which is for dru
a gists to refuse to buy except upon ana
. ysis and To see that the seal Of the Me
=, sna chemist is intact The expense
!, analysis will be merely nominal. the In
. porter paying no more for Analysing :
= jars OF the essence Of the same quail
> than for one. Duly certified copies OF q
, certificate can be made before any II
q tary and attached TO each jar.
{, The method | have suggested shoul
:, without doubt. be eifectual, but. of cours
v IL requires unanimty Of action upon &
:, part OF the purchasers. But, granti
u, that all other precautions fail. governme
tai interference In the interest OF pu
4 food might be invoked. II small du
~ were imposed upon refined oil Of turpe
n tine, which is now on the free list. w
II the condition that in order that essen
n be entered into American ports free
a duty, they should be accompanied by
" reliable certificate Of purity 90 be ps
- for by the shipper. the purchaser. bu
=, ing I'm original packageS would have pl