Animal oil is the chief constituent of fat; it is contained in abundance in the cream of milk, whence it is obtained in the form of butter.
EMILY.
Is animal oil the same in its composition as vegetable oils?
MRS. B.
Not the same, but very analogous. The chief difference is that animal oil contains nitrogen, a principle which seldom enters into the composition of vegetable oils, and never in so large a proportion.
There are a few animal acids, that is to say, acids peculiar to animal matter, from which they are almost exclusively obtained.
The animal acids have triple bases of hydrogen, carbon, and nitrogen. Some of them are found native in animal matter; others are produced during its decomposition.
Those that we find ready formed are:
The bombic acid, which is obtained from silk-worms.
The formic acid, from ants.