340 Kirkwoop AND GIES: CHEMICAL STUDIES 
The harder fats of the oil make excellent candles. They are 
used also as constituents for suppositories and related therapeutic 
products. Medicinally the oil is employed repeatedly as a substi- 
tute for lard, olive oil and cod-liver oil. It is also made the chief 
substance by bulk in various salves and in cold cream, pomade and 
similar cosmetic preparations. In ointments and cerates it 1s 
especially valuable because of its ready absorption when rubbed 
on the surface of the body ; further, it takes up an unusual amount 
of water—a useful quality when it is desired to apply saline solu- 
tions externally. It shows little tendency to produce chemical 
changes in substances with which it may be associated. . 
Crude Fiber and Carbohydrates —Cellulose is a prominent con- 
stituent of the endosperm. Associated with the fibrous elements 
is a polysaccharide, present in comparatively large quantity. This 
substance is only slightly soluble in water, is insoluble in alcohol, 
but readily soluble in salt solution. It is precipitated along with 
globulin when saline extracts of the kernel are dialyzed (pas® 
341). The gum is readily transformed into sugar by the action 
-of diastase or ptyalin. 
The fluid pressed from the finely divided endosperm contains 
a slight amount of reducing sugar—dextrose. Galactose appears 
to have been identified also.* Cane-sugar is also present. 
The following results were obtained in our determinations of 
the percentage content of crude fiber in the fresh tissue : T 
I 2 3 4 5 General Average: 
Fresh endosperm, @ 3.96 3.20 2,08 3.40 2.78 
Fie ee he gs 3.98 
Average, 4.08 3.50 3.05 3.46 2.88 3-39 
Proteids.—That the meat of the cocoanut contains at most 
only a very small amount of proteid matter is seen at a ee, 
from the fol i itrogen. 
e following percentage results for content of nitr echt = 
Water. 
Fatty Acid. Sodium Oxide (combined). Sodium Oxide (free). Other Salts. Residue- 
58.74 32.82 4.26 1.50 2.26 es 
See also the Dispensatory of the United States of America, 1899: 1619 ee 
erences to objectionable chemical qualities of some cocoa-soaps. 
* Green: Soluble Ferments and Fermentation, 100. 1899. . d 
t Determinations were made, after the fresh weighed material had been dried en 
thoroughly extracted with ether, by the method adopted by the Association " gee 1- 
Agricultural Chemists : Bulletin, Division of Chemistry, U. $, Department of ~ 
ture, 46: 26, 
. | In these determinations the Kjeldahl method was employed. 
