518 FIXED OILS, FATS AND WAXES 



saponified, would be converted into soap by the action of boiling 

 aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide which does not appreciably 

 attack wax ; the solution after separation and filtration would then 

 be rendered turbid by hydrochloric acid from separation of the free 

 fat acids. 



Starch (which might be added to white wax) would be detected 

 by boiling with water and applying the iodine test. Inorganic sub- 

 stances, such as kaolin, would be detected in the ash, and by their 

 insolubility in oil of turpentine. 



Foreign colouring matters may be detected by boiling the wax 

 with alcohol for five minutes, cooling thoroughly for several hours 

 and filtering ; the filtrate should be almost colourless. 



Further information respecting the purity of wax may be obtained 

 by determining the acid value, which should not be less than 17*9 

 and the ester value (69-6 to 76-1) as directed in the Pharmacopoeia ; 

 the ratio of the acid value to the ester value should be about 1 to 4. 



Note. Japan Wax is the fat secreted in the mesocarp and cotyledons of the 

 fruit of Rhus succedanea, Linne, and other species of Rhus (N.O. Anacardiacece), 

 Japan. The fruits are husked between millstones, crushed and boiled with 

 water ; the fat is skimmed off, purified by melting and straining, and then 

 poured into moulds. It is a firm, white solid, consisting chiefly of palmitic acid 

 and its glyceride. Melting-point about 50 to 56. It is not a true wax, but a 

 fat. 



Carnauba Wax is the wax secreted on both surfaces of the leaves of Copernicia 

 cerifera, Martius (N.O. Palmes), South America. The leaves are dried and 

 spread on cloths ; the wax is separated by brushing and beating, and then 

 melted and poured into moulds. Consists chiefly of melissyl (myricyl) cerotate, 

 melissyl alcohol, carnaubic acid. Melting-point 83 to 86. Used in candle 

 making, boot polishes, &c. 



Chinese Insect Wax, Pela, is produced by Coccus cerifera, Fabricius (N.O. 

 Hemiptera) on the twigs of Ligustrum lucidum (N.O. Oleacece) or Fraxinus 

 chinensis, Roxburgh (N.O. Okacece). The bark with its coating of wax is 

 stripped from the tree, the wax melted in hot water, skimmed off, purified 

 by re-melting and poured into moulds ; colourless or pale yellowish, crystalline,- 

 almost odourless and tasteless, melts at about 81 to 83 ; consists almost 

 entirely of ceryl cerotate. 



SPERMACETI 



(Cetaceum) 



Source, &c. Spermaceti is a solid wax obtained from the head 

 of the sperm whale, Physeter macrocephdlus, Linne (Phylum Chordata, 

 Sub-phylum Craniata, Class Mammalia, Order Cetacea), and probably 

 other species. Part of the spermaceti of commerce is obtained from 

 the bottle-nosed whale, Hyperoodon restrains. 



The sperm whale inhabits the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans. 

 Its head is of enormous size, occupying about one-third of the animal, 



