COMPOSITION OF NATURAL FATS AND OILS 231 



The amount of each component wliich lias been calculated by Doerschuk 

 and Daubert,-^" as well as the pro])oilions actually found, are reported in 

 Table 20. 



The distribution of fatty acids iti the triglycerides of corn oil agrees most 

 remarkably with the values calculated on the basis of the partial random 

 distribution theory. Only in several very minor instances were any ap- 

 preciable deviations between the calculated and observed values noted. 

 On the other hand, major discrepancies are noted between the triglyc- 

 erides found and those postulated on the basis of the patterns of dis- 

 tribution which would result from the other theories. None of the 11 

 mixed triglycerides found is accounted for by the monoacid hypothesis. 

 Major variations obtain between experimental values and those calculated 

 on the random theory. The most striking deviations are those for Lo, 

 Lo, Lo (223, theory; 8.9 found), Lo, Lo, 01 (257, theory; 482 found) and 

 Lo, Lo, S (164, theory; 335 found). 



In the case of "even" distribution, the discrepancies from the theory are 

 almost as serious as in the random hypothesis. The triglyceride Lo, Lo, 

 01 is actually present to the extent of 482 instead of 535, Avhile Lo, Lo, S is 

 found in an amount of 335 instead of the hypothetic quantity of 291. 

 The most de^'astating non-conformity is to be traced to the fact that, of the 

 9 triglycerides postulated in the partial random theory which are not ac- 

 counted for by the "even" distribution theory, 7 have actually been found 

 in amounts which correspond almost exactly to what would have been ex- 

 pected. The 2 triglycerides which were not observed were minor ones 

 which should have been present to the e.xtent of only 0.5 g. each. The 

 brilliant research of Doerschuk and Daubert-'^" would seem to prove that 

 neither random nor "e\en" distribution necessarily represents the pattern 

 of fatty acid distribution in corn oil. It will be interesting to see whether 

 or not the partial random pattern may apply to other vegetable fats and 

 animal fats when the newer procedures for triglyceride resolution and analy- 

 sis have been carried out. Until such data are available, one should prob- 

 ably keep an open mind as to the possibility that different fats may be as- 

 sembled in several varying patterns. 



d, Glyceride Composition of Fats. Appreciable amounts of the com- 

 pletel}' saturated triglycerides do not occur in the vegetable fats until the 

 concentration of the saturated acids reaches 60%. As can be noted from 

 Table 17, the ratio of unsaturated to saturated acids in the mixed tri- 

 glycerides of seed fats having a higher proportion of saturated acids than 

 60% of the total remains remarkably constant at 1.3-1.4. This relation- 

 ship is followed even in fats such as coconut oil, in which as much as 94% of 

 the acids are saturated. 



The proportions of various groups of glycerides of some common animal 

 and vegetable fats are indicated in Table 21. The composition of some 



