and now ranks as the second in the department, with a popiUation of about 12.500.
'PALMISTRY. See Chibomaxcy.
PALMITIC ACID, C,<^320^ One of tlie most important ul the fatty acids. In a pure state, when crystallized from alcohol, it occurs in the form of beautifully wliite acicular crystals ar- ranged in tuft-like groups. These ciystals are devoid of odor or taste, communicate a fatty feel- ing to the finger, melt at 62^ C, and solidify on cooling in the form of crystalline scales. The acid is lighter than water, in which it is in- soluble; but it dissolves freely in boiling alcohol and in ether, and the solutions have a distinctly acid reaction. In small quantities it may be distilled without decomposing, if the heat be carefully regulated; and it may be distilled in any quantity under reduced pressure. The neu- tral palniitates of the alkalies constitute soaps, and are soluble in warm water; if, however, their solutions are largely diluted with cold water, they are decomposed, an insoluble acid salt being pre- cipitated, while a half of the alkali remains in solution. The other most important compounds of palmitic acid are those which it forms with glycerin and with cetyl alcohol. With glycerin this acid forms three compounds, the most im- portant of which is palmitin (q.v. ). In combina- tion with cetyl alcohol, whose composition is rep- resented by the formula C„H330H, it is the main constituent of spermaceti (q.v.) . and as palmitate of melissyl it occurs in beeswax. The calcium salt of palmitic acid is found in adipocere, its sodium salt in blood and in serous fluids. Pal- mitic acid was first obtained from palm oil — hence its name. It may be obtained from oleic acid by fusing with caustic potash (see Oleic Acid), but is now usually prepared either from Japan wax or myrtle wax.
PAL'MITIN, or Tbi-P.^lmitin. A white fat,
usually occurring, when crystallized from ether,
in the form of a mass of small scaly crj-stals,
insoluble in water, but readily soluble in ether
and in boiling alcohol. It is a constituent of al-
most every kind of fat. and is the preponderating
ingredient in those of a semi-solid consistence,
and in many oils. It receives its name from the
abundance in which it occurs in palm oil, from
which it may be readily obtained, and then puri-
fied by recrystallization from ether. The true
melting-point of the pure substance is 61° C.
(See Ste.rin.) Chemically it is a compound
formed by the union of one molecule of glycerin
with three molecules of palmitic acid, three
molecules of water being set free, according to
the following equation:
C,H,(0H), + 3C„.H„C0,H =
Glycerin Palmitic acid
C3H5(OC„HnCO), + 3H.0.
Palmitin Wat«r
It is saponified, or broken up into its constituents
with formation of soap, by boiling with the
caustic alkalies.
PALM OIL. An oil obtained from the fruit
of several species of palm. When fresh it is
of an orange tint, sweetish taste, and violet-like
odor. It is of the consistency of butter, for
which it is sometimes used. and. like butter, it
easily becomes rancid. It is prepared by boil-
ing the fruit in water. It is used in candle and
soap making, and. on account of its pleasant
odor, as a scent to toilet preparations.
PALM SUNDAY (Lat. Dominica Palma-
rum). The last Sunday of Lent, so called from
the custom of blessing branches of the palm tree,
or of other trees substituted in those countries in
which palm cannot be procured, and of carrying
the blessed branches in procession, in commemo-
ration of the triumphal entry of Christ into
Jerusalem (.John xii.). The date of the origin of
tliis custom is uncertain. Some special celebra-
tion of the day is described as early as .380, but
the ceremony of blessing the branches can hardly
be referred to an earlier date than the nintli.
or possibly the eighth century. A procession is
formed, the members of whieli issue from the
church cariyiog branches in their hands, and
singing the hymn of Venantius Fortunatus,
Gloria, Inns, et honor." In the Greek Church
the book of the Gospels is borne in front. In
some countries a priest, or occasionally a lay
figure, was led at the head, mounted upon an
ass, a usage which still exists in Spain and in
Spanish America. Before their return to the
church the doors have been closed, and certain
strophes of the hymn are sung alternately by a
choir within the church and by the procession
without, when, on the sub-deacon's knocking at
the door with the shaft of the processional cross,
it is again thrown open, and the procession re-
enters. During the singing of the passion in the
solemn mass, which ensues, the congregation hold
the palm branch in their hands, and at the con-
clusion of the service it is carried home to their
respective houses, where it is preserved during
the year. The ashes employed in the ser'ice of
Ash Wednesday are made by burning the palms
of the preceding year.
PALM-SWIFT. A bird. See Swift.
PALM-WEEVIL, See Gbu-Gbu.
PALMY'RA (Lat., from Gk. na)U)pd, trans-
lation of Heb. Tadmor, Tadmor, from tamar.
palm-tree). The Greek Tadmor, connected by
tradition with a city built by King Solomon (I.
Kings ix. 18: II. Chron. viii. 4), an ancient city
in an oasis of the Syrian desert, 150 miles north-
east of Damascus (Map: Turkey in Asia, G 5).
It owed its importance to two springs of water
which produced luxurious vegetation. Being half-
way between the Orontes and the Euphrates, it
became, at an early date, a caravan station
for the trade between the Mediterranean and the
Tigris-Euphrates Valley. Its population was,
therefore, always hybrid, though in the main
.i«mean. The city is first mentioned in B.C. 41
in connection with the wars of Antonius against
the Parthians, when the Triumvir made an unsuc-
cessful attempt to possess himself of it.s riches. At
an early time it was reckoned as belonging to the
Roman Empire, though retaining a large measure
of independence. Xo Roman troops were sta-
tioned here, and Palmyra had to patrol the dis-
trict between Damascus and the Euphrates with
her own troops. In the wars of Trajan the city
was almost destroyed, but was rebuilt by
Hadrian (130) and called Hadrianopolis or
Iladriana Palmyra. It was made a Roman
colony under Caracalla (212), receiving the Jus
Italioiim. In the course of time a semi-inde-
pendent monarchy was developed here. Original-
Iv it was governed by a senate, at the head of
which was a senator. The first senator of whom
we have mention was Hairan, son of Wahbalhit
(222-235), who took the name of Septimius.
