108 Thr PhUippinc Joitrnal uf Science lau 



We are indebted to Prof. A. G. DuMez, director of the School 

 of Pharmacy of the University of the Philippines, and Doctor de 

 la Paz, of the University of the Philippines, for the examination 

 of its physiological properties. They report : 



Administered to cats in doses of 0.34 cubic centimeter per 500 prams 

 body weipht the effect was very slight, apparently causing a movement 

 of the bowel.s within eipht hours in 2 cases out of the 5 tried; when given 

 in larger doses, 1.70 cubic centimeters per 500 grams body weight, the -i 

 cats treated were all affected within twelve hours of the administration 

 of the dose, and the fir.st movement was followed by successive movements 

 within the twenty-four hours; doses of 1134 cubic centimeters of cato oil 

 for 500 grams body weight caused vomiting in both cases within the three 

 hours following the administration of the dose. 



The laxative effect of cato is weaker, however, than that of 

 castor oil, 5 parts of cato oil being approximately equivalent to 

 1 part of castor oil. Its soap-making qualities were tested by 

 the Bureau of Science with gratifying results, and it is now 

 being used by at least one firm in Manila in this industry. 



The chemical constants are given in Table III. 



Table III. — Chemical constants of cato oil. 



Specific gravity at 15° C. 



Specific gravity at 30° C. 



Butyro refractometer (reading at 30° C.) 



Iodine value (Hanus) 



Reichert-Meissl value 



Saponification number 



Free fatty acids (oleic) 



Acid value cc. 



Sterculia fcetida L. — Sterculia is a genus of the Sterculia- 

 ceae — the cacao or calumpang family — and is represented by 

 many species in the tropics of both hemispheres. Sterculia fce- 

 tida occurs in eastern Africa to India, through Malaya to north- 

 ern Australasia, and throughout the Philippines. It is known 

 locally as calumpang (Tagalog, Pampanga) ; hangar (Ilocano) ; 

 and hobog (Visayan). The follicles are large and woody, about 

 10 centimeters long, and contain from 10 to 15 seeds. The shells 

 constitute approximately 48 per cent of the whole seed. The 

 name calumpang is used to designate it throughout this paper. 



The seeds are edible, but are slightly purgative when eaten in 

 quantities. The composition of dried seeds examined by the 

 Bureau of Science is given in Table IV. 





0.9203 





0.9188 





60-61 





80.78 





7.34 





1 92.02 



per cent 



3.98 



N/10 KOH 



7.06 



