IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 
175 
UNSAPONIFIABLE MATTER. 
In determining the nnsaponifiable matter, the method 
used for the determination of cholesterol was used with 
the hope of finding one of the known forms of that sub- 
stance. 
The method was slightly modified, using a methyl alco- 
holic solution of potassium hydroxide instead of the com- 
mon alcoholic solution. The ether extract of the soap 
thus formed gave about one per cent of a white crystalline 
substance which had a melting point of 59° to 60° C. The 
substance has been preserved for future study. It’s melt- 
ing point and general properties exclude it from the list 
of known cholesterols. 
AN EXAMINATION OF THE HUSK. 
One of the characteristic properties of the husk of the 
sumach seed, is its strong acid property. An examination 
showed the presence of both tannic and malic acids. An 
examination of the two acids was made as follows: 
100 grams of the dried husk were extracted with hot 
water and clarified as far as possible by filtration. The 
filtrate then concentrated by evaporation, a little lime 
water added and allowed to stand for some time. A reddish 
granular deposit was formed which on examination, was 
found to be the calcium salt of malic acid. By filtering 
and again evaporating, all of the malic acid was separated 
from the tannic acid. The two lots of the malate were 
purified and weighed. The tannic acid was determined 
in the filtrate with the following results: 
100 grams of the husk gave 7.32 grams of tannic acid or 7.32 per cent. 
100 grams of the husk gave 1.35 grams of the malate or 1.35 per cent. 
THE OIL IN THE HUSK. 
By extracting the husk with ether, an oil was obtained 
with different properties from the oil in the seed proper. 
It appeared almost black when first extracted, had an 
entirely different odor and solidified at 0° C. At 35° C, it 
