A  o5.TmTM*}       Manufacture  of  Olive  Oil,  etc.  455 
The  generation  of  HCy  from  vegetables  is  generally  regarded  as 
-conclusive  evidence  of  the  presence  therein  of  amygdalin  ;  but  Dr. 
Peckolt*  has  in  15  cases  been  unable  to  prepare  amygdalin  from  the 
root  of  Manihot  utilissima,  which  copiously  generates  hydrocyanic 
acid  with  water.  Vetchesf  yielded,  instead  of  amygdalin,  a  new 
crystallizable  body  of  the  composition  C8H16N406. 
The  author  observed  that  from  the  older  branches  of  the  almond 
hydrocyanic  acid  could  be  obtained  only  after  the  addition  of  a  little 
of  a  bruised  sweet  almond,  which  quantity  also  increased  the  HCy 
obtainable  from  the  younger  branches  and  buds.  It  seems,  therefore, 
as  if  amygdalin  may  sometimes  occur  in  plants  without  the  simulta- 
neous presence  of  emulsin. 
The  author  experimented  also  on  the  effect  of  acids  upon  the  gene- 
ration of  hydrocyanic  acid,  and  observed  that  tannin  (to  the  amount 
of  6  per  cent.)  is  without  effect,  but  that  the  other  acids  prevent,  to  a 
oertain  extent,  the  splitting  of  amygdalin  by  altering  the  emulsin,  and 
that  mineral  acids  have  a  more  powerful,  and  vegetable  acids  a  weaker, 
effect.  Acids  do  not  precipitate  the  emulsin,  and  this  principle  does 
not  lose  its  activity  as  a  ferment  by  precipitation  with  alcohol. 
To  ascertain  the  presence  of  amygdalin,  the  vegetable  material  is 
finely  powdered,  the  acid  which  may  be  present  is  neutralized  by 
chalk,  some  coarse  rye  meal  or  a  similar  ferment  is  added,  and  then 
some  water,  after  which  the  fermentation  is  allowed  to  proceed,  and 
the  presence  or  absence  of  hydrocyanic  acid  established,  as  described 
above. 
THE  MANUFACTURE  OF  OLIVE  OIL  IN  CALIFORNIA. 
For  a  number  of  years  past,  the  olive  tree  has  been  cultivated  with 
varying  success  throughout  the  Southern  States,  and  especially  on  the 
islands  on  the  coast  of  Georgia  and  Florida,  and  along  the  sea  board 
of  North  Carolina.  The  quality  of  the  product,  however,  not  being 
the  best,  its  manufacture  has  never  assumed  proportions  of  any  mag- 
nitude, nor  has  it  been  able  to  compete  with  the  oil  imported  from 
Europe. 
A  writer  in  the  Overland  Monthly  publishes  the  information  that 
the  culture  of  the  olive  tree  and  the  manufacture  of  oil  from  its  fruit 
*  Analyses  de  Materia  Medica  Brasileira  Rio  Janeiro,  1868. 
t  N.  Jahrb.  f.  Pharmacie,  1871,  August. 
