Approximately 80 samples of Sri Lankan nutmeg oil (both industrially produced and laboratory distilled) were examined for relative density, optical rotation and refractive index and also analysed by gas chromatography. Results showed that although the oil resembled the West Indies type nutmeg oil rather than the East Indies type it had distinguishing features. Results of studies on industrially produced samples were as follows: relative density (3OoC/3O0C), 0.8690t0.0085; optical rotation (30"C), 31.722.7'; refractive index (30"C), 1.4726i:0.0024; sabinene content, 38.9*12.7%; myristicin content, 2.3% (mean); and elemicin content, 1.2% (mean). On the basis of these studies there appears to be a strong case for revising the Sri Lanka Standard for nutmeg oil, Sri Lanka, which at the present time lays down specifications similar to that of the East Indies oil.

Cocoa sweatings drain off during the fermentation of cocoa beans and are normally a waste. These sweatings were converted to ethanol and then to a mixture of acids by successive fermentation by yeast and bacteria. Of the acid formed, 25 to 50% was non-volatile and was unidentified. The acid was used to coagulate rubber latex to form RSS No. I smoked sheet rubber which was similar to rubber from latex coagulated with formic acid.