AQUATIC PRODUCTS IN ARTS AND INDUSTRIES. 245 



After the extraction of the " taut-pressed-oil " the crude spermaceti 

 is heated in vats or tanks, refined, and " whitened" by the introduc- 

 tion of some alkali, as a weak solution of caustic soda or caustic pot- 

 ash, to saponify any adhering oil. Care must be taken during this 

 process that the spermaceti does not saponify, any tendency to do so 

 being overcome by the addition of brine. The refined product is then 

 molded into suitable shapes for marketing. Most of it is formed 

 into blocks measuring 10 by 12 by 14 inches, and weighing about 62 

 pounds each. It is also molded into cakes weighing 1 pound, half- 

 pound, quarter-i)ound, or of any other desired weight. 



Spermaceti is white, semitransparent, unctuous or talcose to the 

 touch, of a slight fatty taste and odor. A fracture of a cake reveals 

 broadly foliated, crystallized pieces resembling quartz. According to 

 Brannt, its specific gravity is 0.943 at 59° F. It yields nothing to 

 water, and very little to cold alcohol, but is readily soluble in ether, 

 chloroform, and bisulphide of carbon. It melts at about 125° F. and 

 congeals immediately below the melting point. Its component parts, 

 according to the same chemist, are carbon, 80.0.3 per cent; hydrogen, 

 13.25 per cent, and oxygen, 6.72 per cent. 



It is not easy to adulterate spermaceti without detection, since its 

 characteristic properties are readily diminished, the compound being 

 harder, with decreased nacreous luster and smaller foliated crystals. 

 Tallow is readily detected bj^ the odor given oft' in melting, and also 

 by the compound making fat stains on paper, which is not the case 

 with pure spermaceti. Stearin renders it harder and smaller foli- 

 ated, and its presence is readily detected by boiling the sample in a 

 soda solution, effervescence occurring in the adulterated article. If 

 exposed to the air for a long time spermaceti becomes yellowish and 

 somewhat rancid, but when remelted and treated with diluted caustic 

 soda or potash it regains its original condition. 



In the early history of the sperm-whale fishery spermaceti was con- 

 sidered of great value for medicinal purposes, and was recommended 

 for many ills of the body, but was employed principally for internal 

 applications, especially in cases of inflammation. It was so much in 

 demand before the full development of the fishery as to sell at times for 

 its weight in silver. As it became better known, however, it occupied 

 a minor position in materia medica, chiefly in the preparation of oint- 

 ments, and its principal use was in candle-making. 



The beginning of candle-making in America dated from about 1750. 

 The number of factories increased rapidly, and in 1761 there was a 

 total of eight in New England and one in Philadelphia. In 1772 the 

 first candle factory was established at Nantucket, then the headquar- 

 ters of the whale fisher}^ and the number increased until there were 

 10 in existence on the island in 1792, and an equal number then existed 

 at New Bedford." The business of preparing spermaceti was then 

 separate from the general whale-oil refining industry, the candle- 



«N0W Bedford Medley, Nov. 30, 1792. 



