Annotations - Louisa May Alcott, "Transcendental Wild Oats" (1873)

animal substance

Animal fats historically used as domestic fuels include whale, shark, and seal oil. The narrator later reports that “The vexed question of light was settled by buying a quantity of bayberry wax for candles; and, on discovering that no one knew how to make them, pine-knots were introduced, to be used when absolutely necessary.” (1560)