868 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
[April 27, 1872. 
third of the whole weight of kernel. The remaining 
two-thirds come out whole, and are sold for other pur¬ 
poses. This meal has been found to be as rich in flesh 
and fat producers as linseed meal for stock, and supersedes 
the use of it in the cotton-growing- States. The hulls 
are piled in heaps until they arrive at the right state of 
decomposition to be used as a fertilizer, for which they 
are well adapted, being rich in the phosphates and lime 
characteristic of substances used for this purpose. The 
seeds contain a fixed oil to the amount of about thirty- 
seven per cent, of the weight of the kernel, most of 
which is obtained by expression. 
At the factory on Long Island, which the writer 
visited, the seeds are bought with the hulls on, although 
the whole kernel is generally bought directly from the 
planter. These are first thrown into a gin, which sepa¬ 
rates some more of the lint. This is packed in bundles 
and sold for ordinary cotton batting. From this they 
are conveyed to the hullers and undergo the decorticating 
process. The kernel is then carried by an elevator to a 
box, which feeds two large iron rollers, converting it into 
meal; the meal is put into a large vessel heated by 
steam, to render the oil more fluid, and then is put be¬ 
tween iron plates, which are forced together by hydraulic 
pressure, w r hich presses out nearly all the oil and some 
mucilage. About eight per cent, of oil is left, which 
cannot be removed except by solvents. This oil, as then 
obtained, is of a handsome dark wine colour and sweet 
taste. This then undergoes the purifying and bleaching 
process, which is kept a secret by the manufacturers. 
The purified oil is either a golden yellow or white 
colour. An oil is also produced by chiliing the purified 
oil, and expressing, to obtain a variety almost free from 
steai-ine, called by the manufacturers “winter oil,” from 
the fact that cold will not thicken it. 
This oil is used extensively in the arts, chiefly to 
adulterate and substitute higher-priced oils. Cheap 
paints are ground in it, and it is used to a certain extent 
to adulterate linseed oil; but being- a non-drying oil, 
only a small percentage could bo used. 
It is also used for adulterating sperm oil for burning, 
and for mixing with lard oil. The most practical way 
to detect these is to heat the suspected oil with distilled 
water; separate the water and add a solution of subace¬ 
tate of lead. If it contained cotton-seed oil, a white 
precipitate will be formed, on account of the presence of 
mucilage, which is always found in this oil. If the 
sperm or lard oil is pure, it would be indicated by the 
absence of any milkiness. 
It is also used to adulterate olive oil, and chemistry 
has found, no practical mode by which they can be de¬ 
finitely distinguished apart. 
A soap has been made of the residue left after refining. 
It is of a more or less dark brown colour, and disagreeable 
smell. It is used in the laundry, and sells from three to 
seven cents a pound, according to quality. It was also 
attempted to make a soap from the white oil. This, 
w r hen first manufactured, is of a handsome white colour, 
but after standing some length of time it becomes dark,* 
and finally almost black. It is not made now. 
It is used to the amount of ten per cent, in making- 
fancy soaps, to give them a good lather, for which the 
oil is said to be the best known ; but even in this small 
amount the odour of the rancid oil can be detected. 
The hulls are used for fuel in the factory, and the 
greater pait of the cake-meal was sent to Europe, the 
iaimcis of this country, at that time, not being generally 
acquainted with its properties. It sold for about thirty 
dollars a ton. 
A few years ago, the oil was noticed in the journals in 
connection with preparations of pharmacy, to be sub¬ 
stituted for oils in liniments and ointments, for which it 
is adapted by its properties as an emollient, but nothing- 
definite was arrived at. Being cheaper than even the 
commonest grades of olive oil, and resembling it so much 
m its behaviour, it is peculiarly fitted for the preparations 
of the pharmacopoeia in which the olive oil is used. 
Mixed with aqua ammonia) in the officinal quantities for 
“ Liniment. Ammonite,” it makes a product which has 
all the essential properties that are indicated by the 
olive oil, and has the advantage of not forming so thick 
a mixture, thereby making it more convenient. In the 
“Lin. Camphora),” it seems to serve exactly the same 
purpose as the officinal oil. 
Lead plaster made with the cotton-seed oil has been 
substituted with advantage for the officinal, and has been 
used to mix with it to the amount of fifty per cent, by 
some manufacturers of the plaster. This, made with the 
cotton-seed oil alone, forms a handsome, light coloured 
plaster, apparently equal in all respects to the English, 
with the exception that it does not become hard enough 
to keep its shape, in the usual form of selling it. But 
when mixed with olive oil in equal proportions, this 
difficulty is entirely overcome. 
The cost of the plaster made with the cotton-seed oil, 
using the best English litharge, is twenty cents per 
pound. This difference in the cost, combined with the 
practicability of using it, will recommend it to the morn 
careful examination of druggists who deal extensively 
in this preparation.— Amer. jouni. Pharm. 
MEETING AT LEEDS. 
A Meeting of Members of the Pharmaceutical Society 
resident in Leeds, was held in the Library of the- 
Chemists’ Association, on Monday, 22nd inst. ; Mr. 
Edward Brown, President of the Leeds Chemists’ Asso¬ 
ciation, in the chair. 
The Chairman said that it had been their custom for 
the past few years to meet for the purpose of consulta¬ 
tion, upon the important question of selecting represen¬ 
tatives at the annual election of members of Council. 
He believed that the desirability of this mutual consul¬ 
tation was never greater than at the present time. A 
glance at the past disclosed the fact that no loss than 
three Defence Associations had been formed amongst 
chemists and druggists to oppose aggressive legislation 
threatened towards our body. It was now made pretty- 
plain that Government did not entertain the inflexible- 
determination to enforce such legislation, as it had been 
loudly asserted was the case. 
But the real danger lay in the conduct of some who 
ought to be their friends, and the combination to which 
he had alluded was rendered necessary in order to deliver 
them from such friends. Whilst the meeting would 
doubtless receive with due respect the results of any 
deliberations on the same question from their brethren 
elsewhere, he was fully aware that it would do so in an 
independent spirit, and consider the whole question 
upon its merits. The desirability of united action 
amongst those holding similar opinions was very clear, 
and he would ask the meeting to consider whether the 
candidates put forward by the Defence Associations 
would compare favourably, on general grounds, with 
the other candidates. Personally, he believed they 
would do this. 
The following Resolutions were unanimously adopted : 
1. That this meeting of Members of the Pharmaceutical 
Society, having considered the List of Candidates 
for the new Council, resolves that the list of II 
names proposed by the United Defence Associations 
is deserving of its cordial support, and hereby 
promises the same. 
Moved by Mr. E. Thompson, 
Seconded by Mr. W. Smeeton. 
2. That the Chairman and Locai Secretary be autho¬ 
rized to sign, on behalf of this meeting, a recom¬ 
mendation of the said List. 
Moved by Mr. J. Day, 
Seconded by Mr. E. Yewdall. 
The thanks of the meeting were voted to the Chair¬ 
man. 
