84 COCOA AND CHOCOLATE. 



this oil to cure the piles. Others use it to 

 ease gout pains, applying it hot to the 

 part, with a compress dipped in it, which 

 they cover with a hot napkin. It may be 

 used after the same manner for the rheu- 

 matism." 



M. Arthur Mangin says : 



" When pure and freshly extracted 

 cocoa-butter is of a pale yellow color ; its 

 consistency is about that of tallow. Its 

 odor is faint, but sweet, and its taste pleas- 

 ant. When thoroughly purified, and pro- 

 tected from heat, air, and dampness, it may 

 be preserved, without perceptible altera- 

 tion, for several years. 



" It is insoluble in water, hardly soluble 

 in alcohol, completely soluble in sulphuric 

 ether and the essential oil of turpentine. Its 

 density is 0.91. It softens perceptibly at 24 

 or 25 {Centigrade; i.e., 56 or 57 Fah- 

 renheit), but melts only at 29, and be- 

 comes entirely liquid only at 35 to 40. 

 It cannot boil without being decomposed. 



