316 EXPERIMENT STATION BECORD. [Vol. 



insolubility in saturated brine. Tables are jjiven sbowing the variations in 

 insoluble and soluble volatile fatty acids in butler, coconut, palm kernel, 

 and babassu fats, and in mixtures of different proportions of tliese fats. 



The fat of Momordica seeds, C. E. ConiiKLu and E. Cairo (I'harm. Jour. 

 ILondon], ^. scr., 50 (1920), No. 2935, ^p. 4-3, Jf4; also in Anier. Jour. Pharni., 

 92 {1920), No. Jf, pp. 2JtO-2U).—A. study is reported of the oil from the seeds of 

 Momordica cochinchinensifi, a cucurbitaceous plant indigenous to the Philippine 

 Islands. As tlie composition of the oil was altered by heating it to 100° C, 

 the method employed for extracting it consisted of pressing the coarsely 

 powdered kernels at a teniix^rature of about 40°, the heat being furnished by 

 a steam coil around the press. The fat thus obtained was greenish brown in 

 color and of an unpleasant and penetrating odor. The analytical constants 

 obtained were as follows : Saponitication number 1S5.2, acid number 1.9. iodin 

 number 23.4, refractive index at 40° 1.496, ester value 183.3, melting point 

 from 28° to 32°, and unsaponiQable matter a trace. 



Before heating the tat showed certain characteristics of drying oils without 

 the property of producing a A'arnish, while after heating it behaved as a 

 semidrying oil. It is thought that it miglit be used with drying oil in the 

 production of paints and varnislies. 



[Urine analysis], W. A. Feakon {DubUn Jour. Med. Sci., 4- ser., 1 (1920), pp. 

 28-32). — Laboratory notes on tlie following subjects are given: 



I. A modified Kjeldahl method for the estimation of nitrogen (pp. 28, 29). — ■ 

 For Kjeldalil determinations of the nitrogen in urine and in foodstuffs such as 

 protein digests and milk the author recommends in place of sulphuric acid 

 alone as an oxidizing agent a mixture of sulphuric acid and phosphoric acid 

 in tlie proportions of 100 cc. of the former to 200 gm. of the latter, togetlier 

 with 5 gm. of copper sulphate. 



II. The carhazol test for nitrites (pp. 29-32). — This test for nitrites in urine 

 or similar fluids consists in adding a very small amount of carbazol to a few 

 cubic centimeters of strong sulphuric acid in a test tube, shaking well, and then 

 adding a drop of urine or the substance to be tested. In the presence of 

 nitrites, even to tlie extent of about one part in half a million, a deep green 

 color develops. 



III. The detection of tryptophan in urine (p. 32). — If urine containing trypto- 

 phan is treated with an excess of the Hopkins-Cole glyoxylic reagent and a 

 drop of the mixture is added to strong sulphuric acid a deep green color is 

 produced. The test is not given by indol or skatol. 



Preservation of fruits and vegetables for home use, M. Macfarlane (Can- 

 ada Expt. Farms Bui. 93 (1919), pp. 32, figs. 20).— This bulletin, in addition to 

 directions for canning and preserving fruits and vegetables by the various 

 methods now in general use, including drying, contains the results of a com- 

 parison of tlie efficacy of the different metliods in the case of specific 

 vegetables and fruits as determined by the keeping qualities of the product. 

 The results of these experiments, which were conducted at the Central Experi- 

 ment Farm, Ottawa, in 1917 under the direction of L. Kirby, and in 1918 

 under the author's direction, are presented in tables which show at a glance 

 the method to be recommended for that particular fruit or vegetable. 



Processing and canning of ripe olives, W. V. Cruess (Fig and Olive Jour., 



4 (1920}, No. 11, pp. 9-11, 2.5).— This is a general treatment of the subject based 

 in part upon investigations which have been previously noted from another 

 source (E. S. R., 42. p. 113). 



Some bacteriological aspects of dehydration, S. C. Prescott (Jour. Bact., 



5 (1920), No. 2, pp. 109-125). — In this address, delivered at the annual meeting 

 of the Society of American Bacteriologists in Boston, December 29, 1919, the 



