The museum report : a descriptive list of the donations for the years 1895-1902.

  • Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain
Date:
1903
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The museum report : a descriptive list of the donations for the years 1895-1902. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    Lachnanthes tinctoria, Ell. This plant was recently introduced into allopathic practice as a remedy for phthisis, bat it has previously been employed by homoeopathic practitioners. An account of the plant may be found in L'hann. Juiini. [4], XI^'., p. 103, Maize Oil. The grain of Xca >iiai/s contains 6 to 8 per cent, of oil, which is contained chiefly in the germs, and in the process of malting these are removed by first crushing the malted grain and then sifting. The sifted germs are then subjected to hydraulic pressure, and yield 15 per cent, of oil, 4-b5 being left in the pressed cake. If the malted grain is mashed without freeing it from the germs, the oil is skimmed from the mash before distillation, and poured through a fine sieve into a large vat. When the vat is half full, it is filled up with hot water, stirred, and filtered into another vat, from which, after standing some liours to settle, the oil is drawn oft. If required quite clear, it is poured into globular glass vessels and exposed to the sun, and, after the slimy precipitate has settled down, is ])oured oft' clear. The oil is clear to golden yellow in colou), clear, and has a flavour like the grain. It forms a thick fluid with a specific gravity of 0-9215 at 59° F., and contains olein, stearine, palmitine, and a little volatile oil, 0*88 per cent, of free fatty acids, and 1-8 per cent, of non-saponitiable (phytosterin), mucilaginous, and albuminous substances. If exposed in a very thm layer on paper a membranaceous film is not formed inside of three weeks. It is, however, distinctly a drying oil. Sulphuric acid gives with the oil a characteristic green colour, lasting for a few minutes. The elaidin test gives a mass of a pasty consistence. The saponification nimiber of the oil is 181 to 189*2, and of the fatty acids 198. The iodine number 119*4 to 119 9, and of the fatty acids 125. The oil is used for dressing wood, as a machine oil, in the manufacture of soap, and for the adulteration of lard. As an illuminant it gives a bright white flame, and a high degree of heat. Brannt, Animal and Vefjetable Fats and Oils, Yol. I., p. 523. See also linxidikt and Leitcnvituch, Oils, Fats, and TlVf.ir.s, pp. 302-304; Joui n. ^or. Chew, hitl., 1892, p. 505. Smooth Jalap. A new variety of Jala}) has recently appeared in English commerce which, in size and shape, resembles Vera Cruz Oalap, but has not the characteristic transverse warty scars found on that root. Its exact botanical and geographical source is as yet