344 ANNUAL RECORD OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 



the true jaborandi, Pilocarpus pinnatus. It appears that its 

 introduction, or rather reintroduction, is due to a Brazilian 

 (Dr. Continho), who brought some leaves of it for his per- 

 sonal use about two years ago. He attended Professor Gub- 

 ler's lectures ; and, when speaking of sudorifics, the learned 

 professor of the faculty of medicine observed that no drug in 

 use really deserved the name. This statement induced Dr. 

 Continho to bring the jaborandi into notice. The report in 

 the publication referred to is a lengthy one, giving the re- 

 sults of the most important experiments made with this drug 

 by eminent physicians. The physiological action of infusions, 

 chemical composition, and the physiological action of the 

 peculiar alkaloid pilocarpine are detailed. P. simplex gave 

 similar results. It is not only a powerful sudorific, but an 

 equally active sialogue. 



Vegetable " Eider-Down. " 



In the British Journal of Botany for July, 1877, is the fol- 

 lowing extract from a letter of the Rev. James Graves, Secre- 

 tary to the Royal Irish Archaeological Association, to Profess- 

 or BabinGfton : "Mrs. Graves bouo-ht a so-called eider-down 

 quilt the other day. On opening it, the down was found to 

 be as the sample enclosed. Is not this the down of the cot- 

 ton-rush, so conspicuous in our bogs?" In answer Professor 

 Babington says: "It is certainly the down of Eriophorwn ; 

 but I have not determined which species nor does it much 

 matter, since any would do as well, or rather ill, in place of 

 eider-down." In this connection may be mentioned a sub- 

 stance found in the head-dress of a Sandwich-Islander, now 

 in the museum of the Peabody Academy of Salem, which re- 

 sembled a filiform sponge, and w r as sent to Professor A. Hyatt 

 for determination. It proved to be merely the pith of some 

 species ofJuncus, a curious ornament for a head-dress. 



Charcoal for Gunpowder. 



The large consumption of dog -wood for this purpose of 

 late years in Europe has produced a scarcity of this material. 

 The Royal Gunpowder Factory at Waltham Abbey appears 

 to have drawn its supplies of lihamnus frangula wood from 

 Germany, though it might be grown in England on the cop- 

 pice system with the greatest ease. A substitute lias, how- 



