424 



CHINESE OILS. 



This oil has been frequently imported into England as a sub- 

 stitute for linseed oil. The colour is somewhat paler ; it answers 

 equally well. Quantities of the seeds are shipped fi'om the archipelago 

 of the Cape Yerde Islands ; the average export from thence is about 

 100,000 hectolitres annually ; they are sold at the port for 5 francs 

 the decalitre. The seeds are known under the name of Pignons 

 d'Inde by the French, and Purgueira by the Portuguese. 



The following shows the quantity of these seeds raised in 1869 

 in the Cape Verde Islands, the chief locality of production : 



Tons. 



St.Jago 15,750 



Fogo 900 



Bona Vista 22 



16,672 



An oil obtained from another species in India (Jati-opha glauca, 

 Vahl.) is also used locally in medicine and for lamps. In appearance 

 and consistence it resembles castor oil. The seeds of other species, 

 J. thvltifida and J. gossypifolius, are also purgative. 



Croton Oil. — This powerfully cathartic oil, well known in this 

 country for its medicinal properties, is procured from the seeds of 

 Croton tiglium, a small tree, native of Hindostan, Ceylon, and the 

 Moluccas. The oil is obtained by grinding the seeds, placing the 

 powder in bags, and pressing them between plates of iron. The oil is 

 then allowed to stand fifteen days, and afterwards filtered. The 

 residue after expression is saturated with twice its weight of alcohol, 

 heated on the sand bath from 120° to 140° Fahr., and the mixture 

 pressed again. The alcohol is distilled off, the oil allowed to settle, 

 and filtered after a fortnight. One seer (2 lbs.) of seed fui-nishes 

 11 fluid ounces of oil ; 6 oz. by the first process, 5 oz. by the second. 

 Sometimes the seeds are roasted before they are compressed. The 

 seeds of 0. BoxhurgJiii, C. Pavana, and C. ohlongifolius have similar 

 purgative properties. So powerful, purgative, and emetic is this oil, 

 that one or two drops are sufficient for a dose. 



Chinese Oils. — Among the vegetable oils in China are cabbage oil 

 or rape ; Tung oil, from the berries of Dryandra cordata ; ground- 

 nut oil \Amchis) ; til seed {Sesame orientale) ; tea-seed oil, from Thea 

 viridis ; oil pea (Doliclios viridis) ; and the oil bean (Soja hispida). 

 The latter product forms a considerable article of commerce in China. 

 This pulse oil possesses a great analogy to the ordinary edible oils 

 of commerce ; its odour and flavour are agreeable, and it is useful for 

 burning. Exposed to a low temperature it becomes pasty, and re- 

 sinifies rapidly when exposed to the atmosphere. Being a drying oil, 

 it might serve to replace linseed in some of its uses. The plant has 

 the character of a shrub, it branches near the ground, and attains a 

 height of from 3 to 4 feet. It yields about 18 per cent, of fatty 

 matter, and the Chinese regularly obtain 17 per cent, of oil from it. 



