COCUM OIL THE CANDLE TREE. 521 



in France, will yield, according to the observations of Braconnet, 

 a solid soap, similar to that made from olive oil. Boussingault 

 obtained from the oil a solid, as well as a fluid acid. The solid 

 one is probably palmic acid, it fuses at exactly 140 degrees of 

 Fahrenheit. The fluid acid in its properties resembles the oleic 

 acid discovered by Chevreul, and seems to dry easily. 



The following is the composition of each, as determined by his 

 analysis : 



Solid acid. Fluid acid. 



Carbon .... 74'2 .. 76'0 



Hydrogen . . . 12'0 .. ll'O 



Oxygen .... 13'8 .. 130 



100> 100- 



COCITM OIL, or butter, is obtained from the seeds of a kind of 

 mangosteen ( Qarcinia purpurea), and used in various parts of India 

 to adulterate ghee or butter. It is said to be exported to England 

 for the purpose of mixing with bears' grease in the manufacture 

 of pomatum. It is a w r hite, or pale greenish yellow, solid oil, 

 brittle, or rather friable, having a faint but not unpleasant smell, 

 melting at about 95 degrees, and when cooled after fusion re- 

 maining liquid to 75 degrees. 



An excellent solid oil, of a bright green color, is obtained from 

 Bombay, having a consistence intermediate between that of tallow 

 and wax, fusible at about 95 degrees, and easily bleached ; it has 

 a peculiar and somewhat aromatic odor. There is some uncertainty 

 as to the plant from which it is obtained. It was referred to the 

 Salvador a persica, and to the Vernonia Antkelminticea, a plant 

 common in Guzerat and the Concan Grhats. 



A pale yellow clear oil is obtained from the seed of DolicJios 

 bi/lorus (?). Oil is also expressed in India from the seed of the 

 Argemone mexicana, which is used for lamps and in medicine ; and 

 from the seeds of the cashew nut (Anacardium occidentale), from 

 Sapindus marginatus, and the country walnut (Aleurites triloba^) 

 The fruit of the Chironc/ia sapinda, (or Huclianania latifolia^) yields 

 oil. From the seeds of the Pongamia glabra, or Galidupa arborea, 

 a honey brown and almost tasteless oil is procured, which is fluid 

 at common temperatures, but gelatinises at 55 degrees. 



Other sources of oil are the Celastrus paniculatus (?) Balanites 

 Egyptiaca and the saul tree (Shorea JRobustd) . 



THE CANDLE-TREE or PALO DE VELAS, (Parmentiera cereifera, 

 Seemann.) This tree, in the valley of the Chagres, South 

 America, forms entire forests. In entering them a person might 

 almost fancy himself transported into a chandler's shop. From 

 all the stems and lower branches hang long cylindrical fruits, 

 of a yellow wax color, so much resembling a caudle as to have 

 given rise to the popular appellation. The fruit is generally 

 from two to three, but not unfrequently four feet long, and 

 an inch in diameter. The tree itself is about 24 feet high, 

 with opposite trifoliated leaves, and large white blossoms, which 

 appear throughout the year, but are in greatest abundance during 



