THE  AMERICAN 
JOURNAL  OF  PHARMACY. 
MAY,  1889. 
OLIVE  OIL. 
By  Fkank  X.  Moerk,  Ph.  G. 
Contribution  from  the  Chemical  Laboratory  of  the  Philadelphia  College  of 
Pharmacy. — No.  50. 
About  two  months  ago  I  was  presented  with  two  specimens  of 
Lucca  oil  by  the  agent  in  this  city  with  the  avowal  that  the  oils  were 
guaranteed  pure  and  that  they  could  be  subjected  to  all  known  tests  of 
purity  ;  a  little  later  samples  of  California  oils  were  placed  at  my  dis- 
posal by  Prof.  Trimble,  the  samples  having  been  presented  by  the 
manufacturers  through  one  of  our  late  graduates  to  the  college  cabinet. 
The  comparison  of  American  with  foreign  olive  oil  to  my  knowledge 
never  having  been  made,  this  task  was  undertaken  and  the  results 
herewith  made  known.  Each  set  of  tests  was  made  at  the  same  time 
so  as  to  insure  like  conditions  and  comparable  results. 
Specific  gravity  determined  in  50  gram,  bottle  at  15.5°  C. 
Odor.  On  heating  the  oils  in  test  tubes,  only  Cooper's  oils  gave  a 
decided  odor,  resembling  that  of  leather,  due  possibly  to  incipient 
rancidity. 
Color  tests.  Sulphuric  acid.  Two  drops  acid  placed  upon  twenty 
drops  of  the  sample,  the  color  noted  before  and  after  stirring. 
Nitric  acid.  Three  volumes  oil  agitated  for  two  minutes  with  1 
volume  nitric  acid  sp.  gr.  1*42,  observing  the  color  of  the  oil  after 
separation.    Only  a  tinge  of  color  was  imparted  to  the  acid. 
Silver  nitrate  and  gold  chloride  tests  were  applied  as  stated  in  Am. 
Jour.  Pharm.,  1889,  p.  G5.  It  appears  that  age  and  exposure  with  the 
latter  test  should  be  taken  into  consideration,  as  one  of  the  oils  tested 
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