23,6 Perkins and Cruz: Oils in Chaulmoogra Group 551 



Moisture. — The figures for moisture were obtained inciden- 

 tally while drying the ground kernels for extraction. 



Solvent. — The dry ground kernels were extracted in an ap- 

 paratus of the Soxhlet type. Because the work was done in 

 different laboratories the solvent was varied to suit the appa- 

 ratus used. 



First- and second-grade oil. — The oil from the first-grade ker- 

 nels, rather than the total oil, was chosen for the analytical 

 work because of the extensive decomposition which had occurred 

 in the second-grade oil. The free fatty acid figures in Table 

 3 show the comparatively well-preserved character of the first- 

 grade oil. 



The low oil yield occasioned by imperfect drying is well 

 shown in the figures for Hydnocarpus alcalae, B. 



CHARACTERISTICS OF THE OILS 



General.— Table 3 shows the results of s- ; me of the usual phys- 

 ical and chemical tests on the oils studied. All of the deter- 

 minations made have value for certain purposes, but the optical 

 rotation is obviously the outstanding characteristic of the chaul- 

 moogra group. The iodine number and the freezing point of 

 the fatty acids afford in certain cases means of distinguishing 

 one member of the group from others, and the acidity is an 

 index of the' degree of preservation. Conclusions as to the varia- 

 tions in each characteristic as well as descriptions of the methods 

 used follow under the appropriate headings. 



All of the oils were liquid at room temperature (30° C), but 

 one rancid commercial chaulmoogra oil (Taraktogenos kurzii, 

 G) had a large proportion of solid deposit. The color of the 

 pressed oils varied, according to the care used in manufacture, 

 from a yellow similar to that of good olive oil {Taraktogenos 

 kurzii, G) to a reddish brown (Taraktogenos kurzii, G). The 

 first-grade extracted oils had a color similar to the darker 

 pressed oils and the second-grade extracted oils were very dark. 



Samples. — The samples designated as first-grade and second- 

 grade were the extracted oils obtained as shown in Table 1. 



Hydnocarpus subfalcata, B, was a cold pressed oil obtained 

 from first-grade Hydnocarpus subfalcata kernels. 



Hydnocarpus wightiana, B and C, were commercial pressed 

 oils obtained from Calcutta dealers. 



Taraktogenos kurzii, B to N, were commercial oils sold as 

 chaulmoogra by various dealers. Of these, N is obviously adul- 

 terated, and C is suspiciously like Hydnocarpus wightuina in 



