320 
THF TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
[November i, 1896. 
to make coconut butter in a hot climate like ours,” 
lu a substqu^ nt letter Mr. Basu conjectured that 
the butler fats of the coconut might be of two 
or more kinds, with different melting points, ami in 
that case those that melt at a low temperature might 
be removed and the balance would remain sjlid- 
In connection with the subject, the following from 
the journal of the Society of Obemical Industry is 
of interest : — 
The following is an extract from the last report 
of the United States Consul at Mannheim on the 
subject of the manufacture of coemot butter in 
Germany : — , . , , , 
German chemists discovered in the coconut a fatty 
substitute for butter.* This discovery was made by a 
Dr. Schluuk, practical chemist at Ludwigsbafen.on-the- 
Khine. Shortly after the discovery was made a firm 
was established in this city under the name ‘ P. Muller 
and Shone,' which sunk a large amount of capital in 
an enterprise, having for its object the production 
of the new article, to which they gave the name of 
coconut Butter. The results achieved have more than 
justified their expectations. The firm is not able to 
meet the constant demauds made upon it. Although 
iu existence only one year, it employs 25 workmen, 
who get from 25 to 75 cents a day, has a 40-horse- 
power engine, and produces daily 3,000 kilos of butter, 
which retails at from 55 tu 65 pfennigs, or from 13 to 
ink cents per pound, or 26 to 30 ceuts per killogramme. 
“ The nuts are obtained from almost all lands lying 
iu the tropics especially from the South Sea and Coral 
Islands Arabia, the Coast countries of Africa, and 
South America. Natives in countries where the nuts 
grow have tor a long time used the milk of these nuts 
instead of food oils. It coutaius 60 to 70 per cent of 
fat and 23 to 25 per cent of organic substances of 
which 9 to 10 per cent is of albumen. Liebig and 
Fresnius had already discovered the value of the 
coconut oil, or fat, but did not succeed in its produc- 
tion as a substitute tor butter, The new butter is 
of a clear, whitish colour, melts at from 26 degrees to 
28 degrees C., and contains 0-0008 per cent water, 
0 066 per cent mineral siuff.s, auu 99'9932 per cent fat. 
“ft hardens at 190 C. It is better adapted, how- 
ever, for the kitchen than for the dining-room, that is 
for cooking purposes than for the uses to which butter 
is put on our tables. It is neither disagreeable to 
the taste nor smell. In a country where teal but- 
ter runs ail the way from 26 to 35 cents, per lb., 
and coconut butter costs but 15 cents, a great future 
must open up before the latter. At present it is chiefly 
used iu hospitals and other State institutions, but is 
also rapidly finding its way into houses or homes where 
people ate too poor to buy butler. The working classes 
are rapidly taking to it instead of the oleomargines, 
against which so much had been said in the papers 
diitiog the last two or three years. 
“ The new butter is said to be singularly free from 
acids and other disturoing elements so often touud m 
butter, especially that made from milk taken from cows 
diseaseu with tuberculosis. Here it is estimated that 
fully 10 per cent of the mJk-giving cows are so 
troubled. This absence of acids and other matter ren- 
ders its digestion much easier, hence the preference 
already shown for the new article by hospitals 
and such institutions. There are thoie who do not 
hesiiate to declare this new substitute as healthier and 
infinitely preferable to the too often bad butter brought 
on tlie market, and not to be named iu the same breath 
with oleouiargarines made too often from the diseased 
fat of horse and sheep flesh. 
“ When it is remembered that Germany has already 
some 50 factories making olemargarines and other 
artificiil butlers, and that some 180,000 centners are 
procured annually, it will be readily seen that regular 
butler will have hard work to hold its own in a 
hundred uses against its new rivals, and especially so 
since the oleomargarines and ariiHoal butlers of all 
kinds arc placed under severe, careful, and watchful 
state inspectors.” — Ind,io:n Ayrioultihrist, 
• The young kernels scraped to the consistency of 
cream give special siest to (Sinhalese curcieSi— Ln, AL, 
Bananas ani> Melons in Assyria. — In the July 
number of the Babylonian and Assyrian Record, 
Dr. Bonavia attempts to show that the Assyrians 
partook of Bananas and Melons at their dessert. 
So far as the Melons are concerned, this doesnot 
seem at all unlikely ; but as to the Banana, the 
case seems rather more doubtful. It may have been 
so, but the illustrations given from Botta’s Monu- 
ments de Ninive, seem as much like bundles of 
Asparagus as Bananas. Surely the Assyrians did 
not make use of a Oovent Garden bundling machine ? 
— Gardeners' Chronicle. 
The International Congress or Agriculture 
AND Forestry, at which Great Britain, among other 
States, is represented, was opened at Vienna on 
Sept. 2nd under the presidency of the Marshal of 
the Province. The members of the Congress num- 
ber nearly 909, delegates being present from Great 
Britain, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, 
the Netherlands, Norway, Roumania, Russia, f-ervia, 
Sweden, Switzerland, South Australia, India, Brazil, 
and Japan. The representative of England is Mr. 
Ernest larke, the secretary of the Royal Agri- 
cultural Society of England. Upon the president 
of the committee, Baron Hohenbruck, Councillor 
of the Ministry of Agriculture, and the secretary, 
Chevalier Max von Proskowetz, f, r. g. s.,a gen- 
tleman well known in England by his, exploration 
in Central Asia and Eastern Russia has fallen the 
brunt of the labour of organising the congress. — 
0. Mail, Sept, 5th. 
MINOR AILMENTS AOT) THEIR CURES. 
II. 
Baldness, or Loss of Hair. — This generally 
results from worry and overwork, or impairment 
of the general health. Many preparations of 
cantharides are recommended, but many of these 
undoubtedly prove beneficial. At the same time, 
it must be remembered that it is not purely a 
local complaint, and much may be done by im- 
proving the general condition of the health. A 
blanl, unirritating application for the scalp is 
Lanoline, which is readily absorbed by the skin. 
Lanoline contains cholesterine (a fatty substance), 
and it is this which maintains the hair lustrous 
and soft without greasiness. Lanoline, iu the form 
of Lanoline Pomade, shuld be rubbed in freely 
night and morning, preferably in front of a fire. 
Hazeline applied freely by means of a piece of 
Lawton’s Absorbent Cotton will speedily relieve 
any inflammation or irritation of the scalp. 
Asthma. — Asthma is a paroxysmal ailment to 
which many persons are subject. The attacks 
usually come on suddenly, vary greatly in intensity, 
and may last from ten minutes to three or four 
hours. It is sometimes no easy matter to cut 
short an attack, but benefit will often be ex- 
perienced from the use of Nitre Papers, Stramonium 
Cigarettes, and the use of the Chlroide of Ammonium 
Inhaler (Vereker’s). In the intervals, the ad- 
ministration of ten drops of Pure Terebene every 
three hours, with its occasional inhalation, has 
been found beneficial. Pinol has also been used 
for this purpose, and is now largely employed. 
It is very important that the bowels should be 
carefully regulated, and for this purpose. Laxative 
Tabloids may be used, one or more being taken 
every morning according to the requirements of 
the patient. 
Black Eye. — One of the best applications for a 
black eye, resulting from a blow or contusion, is 
Hazeline, applied freely on lint or absorbent cotton. 
Very hot water, applied frequently, is one of the 
best remedies. As a rule the condition luns its 
course, and it is difficult for the sufferer to prevent 
an unsightly appearance for some days. — '^Health," 
London, * 
