NEWER CONCEPTS OF LANOLIN COMPOSITION 11 Chemists frequently need more courage, more self-confidence, and the recognition that their services are contributing to the good of the commu- nity and society to inspire them to greater accomplishment. These things they can acquire through more discussions on problems concerning their profession in their societies, followed by constructive action. This will benefit not only chemists but it will have a profound, beneficial effect on the industrial development of the nation as well. NEWER CONCEPTS OF LANOLIN COMPOSITION* By LESTER I. CONRAD American Cholesterol Products, Inc., Milltown, N.y. THE UNITED STATES Pharmacopoeia describes lanolin, or wool fat, as the purified, fat-like substance from the wool of sheep. This brief descrip- tion does not reveal the complexity of lanolin which is really a wax rather than a fat. Natural waxes consist mainly of esters formed, in nature by the union of higher alcohols and higher fatty acids. They are characterized by a relatively low saponification number, a high percentage of unsaponi- fiable matter, and the complete absence of glycerin. In Figure 1, we have a graphic portrayal of the composition * Presented at the December 10, 1953, Meeting, New York City. Figure 1 COMPOSITION OF PURIFIED LANOLIN HYDROCARBONS FREE FATTY ACIDS I:REE ALCOHOLS o io 3o 40 60 7o 80 90 Ioo PERCENT PRESENT IN LANOLIN (•APPROX)

NEWER CONCEPTS OF LANOLIN COMPOSITION 11 Chemists frequently need more courage, more self-confidence, and the recognition that their services are contributing to the good of the commu- nity and society to inspire them to greater accomplishment. These things they can acquire through more discussions on problems concerning their profession in their societies, followed by constructive action. This will benefit not only chemists but it will have a profound, beneficial effect on the industrial development of the nation as well. NEWER CONCEPTS OF LANOLIN COMPOSITION* By LESTER I. CONRAD American Cholesterol Products, Inc., Milltown, N.y. THE UNITED STATES Pharmacopoeia describes lanolin, or wool fat, as the purified, fat-like substance from the wool of sheep. This brief descrip- tion does not reveal the complexity of lanolin which is really a wax rather than a fat. Natural waxes consist mainly of esters formed, in nature by the union of higher alcohols and higher fatty acids. They are characterized by a relatively low saponification number, a high percentage of unsaponi- fiable matter, and the complete absence of glycerin. In Figure 1, we have a graphic portrayal of the composition * Presented at the December 10, 1953, Meeting, New York City. Figure 1 COMPOSITION OF PURIFIED LANOLIN HYDROCARBONS FREE FATTY ACIDS I:REE ALCOHOLS o io 3o 40 60 7o 80 90 Ioo PERCENT PRESENT IN LANOLIN (•APPROX)