April, 1918 C. U. C. P. ALUMNI JOURNAL 59 



author likewise suggests several methods for the separation of foreign oils from 

 castor oil. 



Starch from Decomposed Potatoes 



Docomet & A. C. Girard, in Comptes rend. I'Aced. d'Agric. de France, 1917, 

 3, 716-719, publish the results of their observations in the utilization of decom- 

 posed potatoes in the manufacture of starch, making the claim that potatoes which 

 have not been subjected to influences which would utterly destroy them, are 

 suitable for the manufacture of starch. Ducomet states that the starch is still in 

 the undecomposed state in the tubers when these are in a deliquescent state, and 

 that it is only in the last stages of decomposition that the starch content under- 

 goes liquefaction. It is entirely feasible to extract the starch content from pota- 

 toes which have been attacked by damp rot, independent of what may have been 

 the cause, whether due to frost, mildew or other organism. Starch thus obtained 

 after being sterilized properly, is said to be entirely fit for consumption by man 

 or animal. Partially decomposed potatoes may be kept for a considerable period 

 of time, before proceeding with the extraction of the starch, if they be kept cov- 

 ered with water. The water thus used must, however, be changed frequently. 

 Girard calls attention to the fact that upward of 75 per cent, of the nitrogen and 

 about 90 per cent, of the potash contained in the tubers is made available by the 

 utilization of this water. In agricultural communities these washings may be 

 added directly to the soil, or they may be absorbed by manure heaps. It has also 

 been shown that if this water is boiled, a very considerable amount (over one-half) 

 of the nitrogen is precipitated in the form of protein, which, after sedimentation 

 may be fed directly to stock. The topic presented above in abstract would seem 

 to be of considerable importance in view of the statements concerning waste of 

 foods, appearing in the February 23rd number of the Department of Health Bul- 

 letin, as follows : — Under the caption "An Enormous Waste of Food" the claim 

 is made that during the month of January, 1918, foods to the value of $500,000 

 were condemned or directed destroyed, among which the largest single item was 

 that of potatoes, estimated at over 6,500,000 pounds. It is further stated that 

 there is no provision made at the present time to utilize this waste. 



Reaction for Nitrils 

 S. Dezani, in Atti. R. Acad. Sci. Torino, 1917, 52, and /. Soc. Chem., 1917. 

 *ii2. describes a delicate reaction for the detection of small amounts of nitrils. as 

 follows : A solution of an aliphatic or aromatic nitril, treated with an equal 

 volume of hydrogen peroxide solution (12 vols.), and 2 to 3 drops of a 5 per cent, 

 solution of ferric chloride, upon boiling produces hydrogen cyanide. The presence 

 of this coniijound is established by means of test papers made by impregnating 

 filter paper with a 1 per cent, solution of picric acid, and drying. Before the test 

 is applied the paper is immersed in a 10 per cent, solution of sodium carbonate. 

 In the presence of a considerable quantity of nitril the test-paper is turned blue, 

 lesser amounts show a- red or brownish red color. 



