ULEUM .SE.SAA11. 470 



other compounrls of glycerin with acids of the fatty series. We pre- 

 pared with it in tlie usual way a lead plaster, and treated the latter 

 with ether in order to remove the oleate of lead. The solution was 

 then decomposed by sulphuretted hydrogen, evaporated and exposed to 

 hyponitric vapours. By this process we obtamed 726 per cent, of 

 Elo.idic Acid. The specimen of sesara^ oil prepared by ourselves con- 

 sequently contained 76*() per cent, of olein, inasmuch as it must be 

 supposed to be present in the fomi of triolein. In commercial oils the 

 amount of olein is certainly not constant. 



As to the solid part of the oil, we succeeded in removing fjitty acids, 

 freely melting, after repeated crystallizations, at 67'' C, which may con- 

 sist of stearic acid mixed with one or more of the allied homologous 

 acids, as palmitic and myristic. By precipitating with acetate of 

 magnesium, as proposed by Heintz, we finally isolated acids melting at 

 52b to 53", 62 to 63^, and 692° C, which correspond to myristic, 

 palmitic and stearic acids. 



The small proportion of solid matter which separates from the oil on 

 congelation cannot be removed by pressure, for even at many degi"ees 

 below the freezing point it remains as a soft magma. In this respect 

 sesame oil differs from that of olive. 



Sesame oil contains an extremely small quantity of a substance, 

 perhaps resinoid, which has not yet been isolated. It may be obtained 

 in solution by repeatedly shaking 5 volumes of the oil with one of 

 glacial acetic acid. If a cold mixture of equal weights of sulphuric 

 and nitric acids is added in like volume, the acetic solution acquires a 

 greenish yellow^ hue. The same experiment being made with spirit of 

 wine substituted for acetic acid, the mixture assumes a blue colour, 

 quickly changing to greenish yellow\ The oil itself being gently shaken 

 with sulphuric and nitric acids, takes a fine green hue, as shown in 

 1852 by Behrens, who at the same time pointed out that no other oil 

 exhibits this reaction. It takes place even with the bleached and per- 

 fectly colourless oil. Sesame oil added to other oils, if to a larger 

 extent than 10 per cent., may be recognised by this test. The reaction 

 ought to be observed with small quantities, say 1 gramme of the oil and 

 1 gramme of the acid mixture, previously cooled. 



Commerce — The commercial im|X)rtance of Sesamd may be at once 

 illustrated by the fact that France imported in 1870, 83 millions; in 

 1871, 57^ millions; and 1872, 50 millions of kilogrammes (984,693 

 cwt.) of the seed.' 



The quantity shipped from British India in the year 1871-72 was 

 565,854 cwt., of which France took no less than 495,414 cwt.- The 

 imports of the seed into the United Kingdom in 1870 were to the value 

 of only about £13,000. 



Sesame is extensively produced in Corea and in the Chinese island of 

 Formosa, which in 1869 exported the exceptionally large quantity of 

 46,000 peculs^ (1 pecul = 133 lb.). Zanzibar and Mozambique also fur- 

 nish considerable quantities of sesame, whilst on the West Coast of 



^ Documents StatUti'iuea reuni:i imr r Ad- of British India with Foreign Countries^ 



mini^ralion de* Douanes xur le commerce de Calcutta, 1872. 62. 



In France, annee 1872. 3 ReiiortM on Trade at the Treati/ Porta in 



- Statement of the Trade and Naviyation China for 1870, Sharighai. 1871. 81. 



