Am.  Jour.  Pharm.\ 
2s  oven, ber,  1901.  J 
Olive  Oil. 
557 
No.  of 
Sample 
Specific 
Gravity 
at  15°  C. 
Melting 
Point. 
Acid 
Value. 
Saponifi- 
cation 
Value. 
Ester 
Value. 
Adulterant. 
i 
0-9437 
62°  C. 
1374 
59-48 
45-74 
Paraffin. 
2 
0-9120 
6i°  C. 
1077 
56-78 
46  01 
3 
0-9340 
65°  c. 
6-36 
30*72 
24-36 
4 
0-9548 
63-5°  c. 
19-16 
99-92 
80-76 
5 
0-9560 
63-5°  c. 
19-11 
95 '53 
76*42 
6 
0-9483 
64°  c. 
27-14 
102-36 
75*22 
Stearic  acid  paraffin. 
7 
0-9463 
63°  c. 
24*31 
95-00 
70-69 
8 
o-954o 
64°  c. 
19-50 
93'33 
73*8o 
9 
0-9520 
52°  C 
14-62 
70-86 
56-24 
f  Paraffin,  tallow,  yellow 
\  ochre. 
10 
0-95I5 
63-5°  c. 
24-20 
97-12 
79-92 
Stearic  acid. 
As  may  readily  be  seen  by  the  above  table,  several  samples  are 
abnormal.  When  paraffin  is  used  the  acid  value  is  naturally  reduced; 
the  latter  is  then  brought  up  by  the  addition  of  stearin ;  usually  in 
this  case,  too  much  is  added,  which  makes  the  acid  value  abnorm- 
ally high. 
Laboratory  of  Smith,  Kline  &  French  Co. 
Philadelphia. 
SOME  NOTES  ON  OLIVE  OIL.1 
By  C.  F.  G.  Meyer,  Jr. 
The  olive  tree  is  believed  by  some  to  be  indigenous  to  Asia  and 
the  seeds,  being  carried  by  migratory  birds  to  the  Mediterranean 
regions,  grew  into  a  wild  tree  called  the  oliaster,  having  a  kind 
of  thorn  and  short  leaves  and  producing  but  a  very  small  berry. 
This  variety  has  been  carefully  cultivated  and  is  now  known  as  the 
sativa,  which  has  a  lanceolated  leaf  and  bears  a  larger  fruit. 
The  olive  tree  prospers  best  in  a  calcareous,  gravelly  and  dry 
soil  on  precipitous  slopes  which  could  be  used  for  no  other  fruit, 
bearing  trees.  It  is  a  fruit  tree  of  the  highest  order,  but  a  great 
deal  of  care  must  be  given  it  in  order  to  obtain  the  best  results. 
1  [The  above  article  by  Mr.  Meyer  -was  prepared  at  the  request  of  Joseph  L. 
Lemberger,  Ph.M.,  of  Lebanon,  Pa.,  who  communicated  the  same  to  this 
Journal . — Editor.  ] 
