AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY. 13 



i^chiitze to determine the specilic reiu-tion iuul specificity of lacto-sera of goat's 

 inilk, and draws the following conclusions: "It would appear that if goat's 

 iiiilk is injected into a rabbit in considerable quantities and at frequent inter- 

 vals the laoto-seruni obtained will precipitate the casein of cow's milk as well 

 as that of goat's milk. Under these conditions it is necessary to dilute the 

 lacto-serum 1 in 10. in order to demonstrate the specific reaction. As a rule, 

 when quantities not exceeding 10 cc. are injected either intra-peritoneally or 

 subcutaneously at intervals of about 7 days, the lacto-sera obtained are spe- 

 cific." 



One part of goat's milk when added to three parts of cow's milk can be 

 detected in 2 hours with an active goat's lacto-serum. The effect of heat upon 

 the lacto-serum was also investigated, with the following results: "Boiling 

 goat's milk for 1 hour does not interfere either with the production of a 

 lacto-serum or with the formation of a precipitate by the specific serum. Heat- 

 ing the lacto-serum at G0° C. for 2 hours or at 65° for half an hour destroys 

 its specific properties." 



The value of the Polenske test in the analysis of oils and fats, R. R. Tat- 

 i.ocK and R. T. Thomson {Jour. Soc. Chenu Indus., 28 {1909), No. 2, pp. 69- 

 72). — The authors describe in detail their experiments with the Polenske 

 method. " It is apparent from these results that the possibility of the detec- 

 tion of even 10 per cent of coconut oil in a butter by the Polenske method is 

 very doubtful. . . . We may add that, so far as our trials have gone, we can 

 not place any reliance on the methods of detecting coconut oil which are 

 dependent upon silver, copper, or baryta values. 



"As regards the detection and estimation of coconut oil in margarin, the 

 Polenske number appears to be quite reliable within limits of, say, 5 per cent." 



lodin value of oils, L. E. Levi and E. V. Manuel {Jour. Atncr. Leather 

 Chciii. Assoc, 3 {1908), pp. 386, 387; abs. in Jour. Soc. Chem. Indus., 28 

 {1909), No. 2, p. 98). — "Experiments with cod, olive, sperm, neat's-foot, and 

 ' tan ' oils showed that carbon tetrachlorid or pentachlorethan may be substituted 

 for chloroform in the determination of the iodin value of oils by the Hanus 

 method." 



Denaturing of cotton-seed oil, G. Winterfeld {Chem. Ztg., 33 {1909), No. 

 .7, pp. 37, 38; Mitt. K. Materialprufungsamt Gross-Lichterfclde West, 27 {1909), 

 No. 1, pp. 28-31; ahs. in Jour. Soc. Chem. Indus., 28 {1909), No. 3, p. 150).— 

 The author has made experiments to determine to what extent alkali solutions 

 are effective in denaturing cotton-seed oil. He finds that " in the case of cotton- 

 seed oil containing 10 to 15 per cent of potassium hydroxid solution of specific 

 gravity 1..32 or of sodium hydroxid solution of specific gravity 1.34, it is possible 

 to recover from 60 to SO per cent of the oil, which, though of inferior quality, 

 might still be used for food purposes, but that it is questionable whether the 

 treatment would be profitable." 



Salvadora oleoides fat, D. Hooper {Agr. Ledger, 1908, No. 1 {Veg. Prod. Ser., 

 No. 106), pp. 1-5; ahs. in Jour. Soc. Chem. Indus., 28 {1909), No. 2, pp. 97, 98).— 

 The fat obtained from the seeds of 6'. oleoides used as a " resist in dyeing " is 

 solid at ordinary India temperatures and can be distinguished from other 

 Indian fats by its low iodin value and high saponification value. It is thought 

 that it should be useful for candy making, hard soap, and pharmaceutical 

 products*. 



Some oils of Japanese plants, M. Tsujimoto {Chem. Rev. Fctt u. ITars 

 Indus., 15 {1908), Nos. 6, pp. V,0-1J,3; 7, pp. 167-170; abs. in Ztschr. Untersuch. 

 Nahr. u. Genussnitl., 17 {1909), No. 3, pp. i//2-i//// ) .—Physical and chemical 

 properties are reported on oils derived from the seeds of Thea japonira, T. 



