Annual Repoi't for 1908 of the Consulting Chemist. 299 
permissible under the Fertilisers and Feeding Stuffs Act, and 
purchasers should decline to accept any delivery of linseed 
cake under these terms. If a cake is described as “ linseed 
cake,” it must be a “ pure ” cake, and any other should be 
described as “oil cake,” or by some term indicating that it is 
not guaranteed as pure. 
Prussic Acid in Linseed Cake. 
It may be remembered that in the case of Java beans, the 
harmful properties of these have been found to be due to the 
presence, in the bean, of a body known to chemists as a 
“ cyanogenetic glucoside,” and which, when the bean is 
macerated in water, develops hydrocyanic acid (prussic acid.) 
Something of the same nature has now been ascertained to 
occur occasionally in the case of certain kinds of linseed. 
Though the conditions under which this happens are not 
yet fully understood, it would appear that it may occur when 
seed is used which has not been thoroughly ripened. At all 
events it does occasionally happen that linseed cake, on being 
stirred up with water, develops a certain amount of prussic 
acid. I have reason to think that the possible harm resulting 
from this has been considerably overstated. Still, it is a 
matter to which attention should be directed, and which calls 
for further investigation. 
Jn one case which was brought to my notice a member of 
the Society sent me a sample of linseed cake which he said 
his lambs refused to take. I found the cake to be quite free 
from any weed seeds or foreign matters, but, on looking into 
the matter further, I found that it certainly did develop, when 
stirred up in water, a not inconsiderable amount of prussic 
acid. I have no doubt that it was to this that the reluctance 
of the sheep to take the cake was due, though no actual harm 
resulted from its use. 
2. Decorticated Cotton Cake. 
This kind of cake, as already mentioned, has been excep- 
tionally scarce. Occasionally a good sample is met with, and 
of this the following is an example : — 
Moisture ........ 5 93 
Oil 18-71 
'Albuminous compounds ..... 39 31 
Mucilage, digestible fibre, &c. .... 25’16 
Woody fibre (cellulose) ..... 3 62 
2 Mineral matter (ash) ..... 7 - 27 
100-00 
1 Containing nitrogen ...... 6 29 
’Including sand ...... none 
