SPERMACETI 519 



which varies from 50 to 70 metres in length. In a special, large, 

 cylindrical organ in the upper region of the huge jaw and above 

 the right nostril an oily liquid, crude sperm oil, is secreted. After 

 the whale has been captured this cavity is emptied of its oil, which, 

 on cooling, deposits a quantity of crystalline matter. This, the 

 spermaceti, is separated by pressure and purified by re-melting, and 

 washing with dilute solution of sodium hydroxide to free it from 

 the last traces of oil ; the spermaceti separated from the soap thus 

 produced, and from excess of free alkali, forms as it cools crystalline 

 masses. 



Description. Spermaceti occurs in translucent, crystalline masses, 

 pearly white in colour and unctuous to the touch ; it has but little 

 odour or taste. Specific gravity, 0*95 to 0'96 ; melting-point 46 

 to 50 ; acid value not more than 1 ; saponification value 125 to 136 ; 

 iodine value 3 to 44 ; refractive index at 80 about 1-4330. It is 

 insoluble in water and cold alcohol, but soluble in ether, chloroform, 

 and boiling alcohol, crystallising from the latter solvent on cooling. 



Constituents. Spermaceti consists principally of cetyl palmitate, 

 C 15 H 31 .COOC 16 H 33 , together with a small proportion of esters of other 

 fat acids. 



Cetyl alcohol, C 15 H 33 OH, which can be obtained from spermaceti by saponi- 

 fying with alcoholic solution of potassium hydroxide, diluting with hot water, 

 filtering from the soluble potassium palmitate and crystallising from hot alcohol, 

 forms brilliant, colourless crystals melting at 49'5. 



Adulterants. Spermaceti may be adulterated with stearic acid, 

 stearin, tallow, and paraffin wax. Stearic and other fat acids raise 

 the acid value ; stearin, tallow, and paraffin wax are insoluble in 

 boiling alcohol ; stearin and tallow raise the saponification value but 

 paraffin wax lowers it. 



Note. Ambergris is a substance formed in the intestine of the whale, and 

 found there or floating in the sea. It occurs in masses of varying size (1 to 20 

 or more pounds), greyish in colour, veined, brittle, with an agreeable, persistent 

 odour recalling musk. 



WOOL FAT 



(Lanolin, Adeps Lanae) 



[Source, &c. Wool fat is a fatty or, more correctly, waxy substance 

 secreted by the hairs constituting the fleece of the sheep Ovis aries, 

 Linne (Phylum Chordata, Sub-phylum Craniata, Class Mammalia, 

 Order Ungulata). 



If a few threads of raw sheep's wool are examined under the 

 microscope little masses of a fatty substance may be seen adhering 

 to them. This is the crude, natural, wool fat ; part of it is soluble 



