498 
Chaulmoogra  Oil. 
J  Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
\  November,  1915. 
"  Constituents  of  Gynocardic  Acid,"  the  concluding  paragraph  of 
Mr.  Chattopadhyay's  paper  contains  the  following  statements : 
"The  high  neutralization  value  (230)  indicates  the  presence  of 
saturated  fatty  acids  of  the  general  formula  C„H2„02,  and  this,  com- 
bined with  the  ready  solubility  of  the  calcium  and  magnesium  salts 
in  boiling  alcohol,  suggests  the  presence  of  lauric  acid.  Further, 
the  ready  decomposability  of  the  calcium  salts,  as  also  its  solubility, 
makes  the  presence  of  linoleic  acid  very  probable.  The  various 
quantitative  determinations  show  that  chaulmoogra  oil  is  a  mixed 
triglyceride  of  lauric,  chaulmoogric,  and  linoleic  acids."  On  the 
basis  of  such  an  assumption,  which  is  entirely  devoid  of  any  scientific 
foundation  or  reason,  he  then  proceeds  to  state  that  "  the  approxi- 
mate percentage  composition  calculated  from  these  data  gives  the 
following : 
"  Linoleic  acid  (series  C„H2„_40)    70  per  cent. 
Oleic  acid  (series  C„H2„_202)    28  per  cent. 
Lauric  acid  (series  CwH2n02)    12  per  cent. 
100  per  cent." 
It  is  difficult  to  reconcile  this  summary  with  the  statement  im- 
mediately preceding,  especially  as  the  sum  of  the  figures  given 
amounts  to  1 10  per  cent. 
In  the  beginning  of  his  paper  Mr.  Chattopadhyay  expresses  the 
opinion  that  what  he  considers  to  be  an  unsatisfactory  condition 
respecting  the  botanical  source  of  chaulmoogra  oil  is  supported  by 
the  various  analyses  of  different  observers.  If,  however,  in  view 
of  the  very  complete  botanical  and  chemical  investigations  already 
cited  respecting  the  source,  characters,  and  composition  of  chaul- 
moogra (Taraktogenos)  oil,  gynocardia  oil,  and  allied  products,  any 
divergence  of  opinion  may  still  be  entertained,  it  is  earnestly  to  be 
hoped  that  it  would  be  based  on  some  more  substantial  foundation 
than  the  statements  contained  in  the  above-mentioned  paper  afford. 
It  may  finally  not  be  amiss  to  emphasize  the  fact  that  •  chaul- 
moogra (Taraktogenos)  oil  and  gynocardia  oil  are  totally  unlike, 
both  in  their  physical  characters  and  chemical  composition.  The  dif- 
ference in  physical  characters  has  already  been  referred  to,  and  with 
regard  to  their  composition,  as  established  by  the  series  of  re- 
searches which  have  also  been  briefly  cited,  the  following  may  be 
noted : 
