1021 
importance in these Islands and because of inquiries made at this Bureau 
and at the Bureau of Forestry, it was considered advisable to confirm 
these statements. 
As the roots are said to contain the greater percentage of coloring matter, 1 kilo 
of these were finely ground and then heated in a closed vessel, with water, for eight 
hours. The aqueous extract was filtered from the wood and evaporated in vacuo 
to a small bulk, whereupon an aliquot portion was desiccated, giving a residue of 
2.7 per cent. The concentrated liquor was placed in the cold storage for two weeks, 
when a reddish, crystalline crust had been deposited. This was dissolved in 12 per 
cent alcohol containing a little hydrochloric acid and zine, filtered, evaporated and 
the brasilin reerystallized from strong alcohol. 
The brasilin thus obtained was in amber-colored crystals, soluble in water, 
alcohol, and ether. With ammonia it gave an intense carmine, as it did with 
potassium or barium hydrates. The solution in sodium hydrate, when decolorized 
with zine dust, rapidly absorbed oxygen from the air and again became colored. 
With aluminum sulphate or with ferric chloride it gave purple, black lakes. 
Brasilein was obtained as a brown, crystalline powder upon oxidation with nitric 
acid. The alkaline solution of brasilin, which had been turned red by oxidation 
in air, was again reduced to a colorless condition by the addition of hydroxy- 
lamine hydrochloride; on being acidified, the brasilin was regenerated. Fusion 
with potassium hydrate gave a small amount of resorecin, which was identified 
by color tests and by the melting point. 
These tests, together with the results of Bolley’s analysis, leave no 
doubt but that the coloring matter of sappan wood is brasilin. 
ENTADA SCANDENS Benth.”! (Leguminosew) AND SOME OF 
THE KISH POISONS. 
Entada scandens is cosmopolitan in the Tropics of the world. It is 
widely distributed and quite abundant in the Philippines. The Tagalog 
name is “gogo;” Visayan and Pampangan names are bayogo and balogo. 
The wood of the vine is cut into thin strips, which are then beaten between 
stones in order thoroughly to disintegrate the fiber. In this condition 
gogo is brought into the markets. It is largely used by the natives for 
washing the hair. To this end the prepared gogo is soaked over night 
in cold water; the red solution makes a very good lather which renders 
the hair very soft without making it too dry, as is usually the case with 
soap. ‘Tavera states that this treatment cures pityriasis, and I have 
found this to be the general belief among Spaniards and the better class 
of natives. There is no question but that the people who wash the head 
with gogo and then apply coconut oil have very luxuriant hair, but 
whether this luxuriance is due to the use of this substance can not be 
stated. The natives also use gogo for treating the itch, washing the 
affected parts with the decoction and at the same time briskly rubbing 
them with the fibers. In this way they remove the crusts that shield 
the mites. The treatment is successful in direct proportion to the energy 
of the rubbing. The tough bark of this plant is used in Ceylon for 
cordage and fiber. . 
** Benth, in Hook. Journ, Bot., 4, 332; Baker in Hook. f. Fl. Brit. Ind., 2, 287. 
