CHEMICAL SCIENCE. 243 



in them begins to decompose in about a fortnight, producing a disagreeable 

 odor. 



On the Preparation of Oil from Seeds, Nuts, etc. Pelouze states that any 

 edible oil will have a different composition and taste, according to the length 

 of tune that has elapsed before the seed from which it has been extracted 

 was submitted to pressure. The best oils for the table are those which have 

 been extracted immediately after the crashing of the seed. 



New Oil At a recent meeting of the Liverpool Chemists' Association, says 

 the London Lancet, sample of shark liver oil was presented, and possesses 

 some peculiar interest. Hitherto sperm oil possessed the lowest specific 

 gravity. .875, and was the lightest oil known; but shark oil is found to have 

 a specific gravity of only .866. It came from Marseilles, and was stated to 

 be procured from sharks caught on the coast of Africa. 



Fish Blubber Soap. R. Johnston, of Aberdeen, North Britain, has taken 

 out a patent for manufacturing soap as follows : He first boils fish or blubber 

 for some hours, then lets the contents in the boiler settle, and takes, all but 

 the deposit at the bottom, which is thrown out and composted to make 

 manure. He then strains the liquor through a coarse bag, which is put into 

 a press, and all the loose matter pressed out. That which is left hi the bag 

 is put into the soap kettle, with one fourth its weight of tallow, and boiled 

 with caustic, soda, or potash for seven hours. The soap thus made is stated 

 to be without smell, and of good quality. 



Purifying Whale Oil. Peter Arkell, of Stockwell, England, has taken out 

 a patent for purifying whale oil as follows: He puts common whale oil in an 

 iron still, with one ounce of sal ammoniac and a pint of turpentine to each 

 gallon, and applies heat to the still. The still is stirred by a rod passing 

 tight into it during the period distillation is going on. The oil that is distilled 

 over is stated to be peculiar in its character, and of a superior quality. A 

 quantity of black pitch is left behind in the still. 



Improved Soap. "W. A. Armand, of London, has secured a patent for the 

 following method of making a soap called " saponitoline," and which is stated 

 to be of a superior quality. He places in a copper 88 gallons of soft water, 

 and mixes with it 112 Ibs. of crystal soda, or 79 Ibs. of salts of soda, and, 

 after two or three hours have elapsed, agitates it, and adds 112 Ibs. of com- 

 mon soap. He then heats the whole to 40 or 45 Centri grade, and adds 17 

 Ibs. of pearl-ash, and 17 Ibs. of quick lime. When ebullition has commenced 

 in the copper, he slowly agitates the heated mass, and pours into it about 5 

 gallons of mucilage of linseed or marsh-mallow seed, after which he adds 7 

 Ibs. of borax, or about 2i Ibs. of calcined alum. "When the whole is well 

 mixed in the copper, and the liquid presents the appearance of being perfectly 

 homogeneous, he leaves it to boil on a slow fire for three quarters of an hour. 

 The fire is then extinguished, the copper covered over, and the temperature 

 allowed to fall to 55 or 60. He then pours the liquid into barrels, where 

 it becomes solidified hi about 24 hours (supposing that hard soap has been 

 used ; if otherwise, it remains in a gelatinous state). 



Bleaching Oils, Resins, etc, An improvement has been patented in England 

 for causing oils, fats, and resins, when in a heated" state, to be thrown by 



