174 
THE TROPICAL AGRlCULTURtST. 
[Drc. j, 1893. 
OCOilUt oil. The soaj) made fiolu it i.-s soluble to 
a larget extent in saline and alkaline water than 
tnO)?t other kinds of .soaj) ; hence it is used for 
thfe, manufacture of marine soaps. It does not 
rnake a good lubricant, as it t-oiitaiii s fieb acids. 
In addition to the other uses enumevated, it has 
been used in considerable quantities of recent 
years for the manufacture of a butter substitute, 
known in commerce as coconut butter. 
Coconut oil has a very complex constitution. 
The tollowing- fatty acids have been found in it, 
Laurie acid (J, 2 li,^ j ; myristic ;iciil C,^ H„, 
<>2 ; acids having the composition (',, H,, 0^ 
and C,jj <> ; also jialmitic acid ('.^ H,, (», ; 
and stearic acid H.^ (),. 
When coconut oil has solidified, which it does 
at the comparatively high temperature of ~H' F. 
it can be readily se|)arated l>y pressure into a 
sol ill body, stearine, and a lifiiiid called elaine. 
The former substance is used in the manufacture 
of candles, the latter, after lieing purilied with 
ul pliuric acid, is used as a burning oil. 
A sample of ordinary coconut oil from the bazaar 
had a specific gravity '9207 at 85° F. (•29-4° C). 
A sample of Hiiltsilorf pure king-coconut oil at the 
same temperature had a specific gravity of -9] 80. 
The specific gravity of coconut oil given by 
European writers is for the temperature 212' F. 
(100° C) -868. 
Margos(( Oil. 
This is a bitter oil obtained by pressure from 
the seeds of the Margosa tree, Mr/in A.-nrf/irar/ifn, 
also known as the nim or neem tree. The bark of 
this tree has long been known to possess tonic 
and astringent properties, and is now also used 
as a febrifuge. The leaves are used as an external 
application foi ulcers, &c. The oil is highlyipri/ed 
for its anthelmintic properties, and is used more 
especially to protect the sores on horses and cattle 
from blow tlies. It is used also as a lubricant for 
steel, iron, &c., but its price is too high to admit 
of its extended use in fjiis direction. 
It is dark 
A sample of 
had a specific 
in color, and has a strong smell, 
the oil purchased in the bazaar 
gravity of 9223 at 80° F. (26° C.|. 
Castor Oil. 
This oil is extracted from the seeds of Ricinus 
eoimmmis, a plant which is common in Ceylon. 
The chief applications of castor oil are in medicine, 
in the making of toilet .soaps, and as a lubricant 
for heavy machinery. It is a colorless or pale 
yello\v, viscid oil, of specific gravity -960 to 964, 
at 59° to 60° F. It is an oil which is subjected to a 
good deal of adulteration, such substances as olive 
oil, poppy seed oil, lard oils, coconut oil and refined 
rosin oil being amongst the known sophistications 
Gingelly Oil. 
This oil is expressed from tlie seeds of Sesaimun 
indieum, and Sesamum orienfalc. It is known by 
different names such as Benne, Sesame, Til, Teet. 
Gingili. For many pui-poses it forms a good 
substitute for olive oil. In Ceylon and Egypt it 
is used as a cosmetic, in addition to its other 
applications, such as for cooking and burning. 
It is used to some extent for soap making, and 
for adulterating olive oil. This adulteration can be 
detected by the shape of the cohesion figure formed 
when a drop is placed on the surface of water. 
The color of gingelly oil is pale yellow, it has 
yerx little odour, and i,ts taste is mild and rather 
iigreeable. 
A sample of .tazaar oil had a specific gravity 
of -9163 at 80* IP. Its specific gravity at 59 to 
60° F. (15° to 15-5° C.) is -923 to -92,4. It becomes 
9oli(l at from + 8 to ■o'' C. (Allen). , 
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