February 2, 1885.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 



595 



has been steady for some time past, and there seems no 

 reason to expect a fall. 



The demand for Oopperah too has grown, and very 

 satisfactory prices have been realized, good qualities securing 

 an advance of as much as R5 per candy over the priees 

 which the Mills can pay. Of Oopperah, as of Poonac, 

 France takes a very large share, oiu' best customer being 

 British India. The residuum of Poonac which all this 

 Oopperah when expressed must leave, is, no doubt, put 

 to the same uses in Europe as the Poonac which is im- 

 ported direct; but we suspect it is the large quantites 

 of Oopperah we have exported, which has helped to 

 slacken the demand for oil, and to lower prices; for we 

 have now to take account, in addition to the largely in- 

 creased exportation of oil, of the heavy exports of the. 

 material of which oil is expressed. Whatever the effect 

 ou the local manufacturers of oil, the proprietors of 

 coconut estates have largely benefited by the compet- 

 ition for Oopperah enchauced by export orders, and by 

 the iucreased demand for Nuts t ;... for export. — "Examiner." 



PAPAW FRUIT AND " PAPAIN-FINKLER." 



Professor Finkler, of Bonn, has furnished us with the 

 following report : — 



I have for several years turned my attention to the 

 chemistry of digestion and ferments ; it was, therefore, only 

 natural that I should take an interest in Papain, which 

 I find dissolves albumen and fibrine in acid, alcohol, and 

 pure water. I test the whole of the Papain in my laboratory, 

 and I guarantee that it will dissolve in pure water 1,000 

 times its weight of fresh fibrine. 



This preparation is different to any other I have tested, 

 because it is not acted upon by exposure to the atmo- 

 sphere, and will keep for some time. 



" Papain dissolves the membranes of diphtheria and croup 

 very rapidly, not a single patient that I have treated in 

 the University Hospital or in private practice has died, 

 but all have recovered. In every case the membrane was 

 dissolved by paiuting it with Papain about five times a day. 

 In very severe cases, I have continued the application during 

 the second day. I found that as soon as the membranes 

 were dissolved the fever disappeared, and the pulse became 

 normal." 



Dr. Rossbach, Professor of the University of Jena, a 

 very distinguished physician, has had the same results. It 

 is evident that the danger of diphtheria is due to the 

 membrane, and, if this is destroyed, the danger disappears. 

 As Papain can be applied with salicylic acid, which in- 

 creases its action, I maintain that there is no other drug 

 in existence that has equal properties for this purpose. 

 When using Papain to paint the membranes caused by 

 diphtheria, I mix it with water until it appears like a 

 muddy liquid. I never mix more than the quantity of 

 papain required for the one operation, as it appears that 

 Papain loses somewhat of its power if allowed to remain dis- 

 solved for any length of time in water. Therefore every three 

 hours I prepare a fresh solution for application. Papain 

 cannot harm either the stomach or bowels. I have taken 

 it myself in doses of O'l to 0*2 grams (l-h to 3 grains). I have 

 prescribed Papain to a great many of my patients affected 

 with disease of the stomach, but I have never known any 

 bad effects. Even an atonic and also an anaemic stomach 

 can take it without the slightest ill effects. On the eou- 

 trary, an increased appetite is soon observed. Papain dis- 

 solves the mucous and cleanses the stomach effectually. 

 It is not correct that Papain dissolves the lining (mucous 

 membrane) of the stomach. I have given it to animals, 

 and have observed, after having had tin- animals killed. 

 that the mucous lining of their stomach was sometimes 

 slightly reddened. If. however, Papain is given directly 

 after meals, when the stomach contains food. I have never 

 noticed a change in the appearance of the stomach. Acid- 

 ity of the saliva is in most cases a consequence of deranged 

 digestion of the stomach ; by taking Papain, which causes 

 an increase of the powers of digestion, the acidity of the 

 saliva will cease. 



The following difference between the action of Pepsine 

 and Papain is important to note :— "With or accompanying 

 the activity of tin- saliva, there is an excess el' acidity 

 in the stomach. This can be removed by prescribing 

 Hatron bicarbonicum (bicarbonate of soda), &c, but as soon 



as the acid in the stomach is thereby decreased, the effect 

 of Pepsin is paralysed, because Pepsin only acts when it 

 comes in contact with a free acid. As, however, Papain 

 either with an acid or alkaline reaction, although 

 best in pure water, it is clear that Papain will decrease 

 any acidity of the stomach or saliva, and promote a good 

 digestion. This is an important point to bear constantly in 

 mind. 



The following information also proves the great value of 

 Papain. Prof. Kiihne, at Heidelberg, has substantially 

 shewn that Pepsin is destroyed by the action of Pancreatin. 

 It is not possible to have a simultaneous action of both 

 these ferments. The Pancreatin joins the chyme— chymus 



as ion as it leaves the stomach and enters the duodenum. 

 Although the digestion is improved by adding Pep ine, 

 the latter will only act during the brief period while the 

 food is actually in the stomach. As soon as the food 

 enters into the duodenum Pepsin is rendered powerless 

 by the juice of the Pancreas, consequently Pepsin ceases 

 to act whilst the food remains in the bowels. With Pap.un 

 it is different, as its action will be increased by both Pepsin 

 and Pancreatin, and the power of digestion by Papain 

 continues to be exerted in the bowels. Pepsin cannot 

 accomplish so much, especially as in many parts of the 

 bowels the re-action is alkaline, and consequently Pepsin 

 is rendered powerless. 



As long as a regular digestion goes on in the bowels, 

 there is no possibility of decomposition (rotting). Flatul- 

 ency and similar complaints caused by any abnormal 

 matter in the bowels wdl he prevented by the use of Papain. 



I prescribe Papain in the form of a powder, which should 

 be mixed with water in a spoon or glass. I give it either 

 pure or mixed with natron bicarbonicum or a mixture 

 with equal parts of natron bicarbonicum and eltBOsarcharum 

 mentha piperit. It should be taken immediately after meals. 

 The dose is O'l — 0\3 gram=lj to ih grains. 



To cause an artificial digestion, I use clear water, not 

 hydrochloric acid, because the creation of Peptons is 

 thereby better accomplished. I consider as a most remark- 

 able circumstance that meat soaked in Papain and water, 

 or even moistened over with it, will not putrify (rot), but 

 can be kept for days in a room without further care to 

 keep it from going bad. On the other hand, meat moist- 

 ened with water, without any admixture of Papain, and 

 kept in the same room will rapidly acquire the bad smell 

 and decompose. 



Thomas Chetsty & Co. 



flf it be true as stated that "Papain" (derived from 

 the papawfruit) cures diphtheria, then a very important 

 discovery has been made. — Ed.] 



ORIGIN OF CULTIVATED PLANTS. 

 In the vegetable kingdom there are about 140,000 species 

 of plants. Of these 247 are cultivated for domestic use. 

 At "lie time, before the advent of man. these 247 plants 

 A in a wild state, and in the Origin of Cultivate 

 II, mis ili. Minis. Alphonse de Candole, a renowned 

 Genevan botanist and member of Scientific Societies in all 

 parts of the world, endeavours to trace when and where man 

 set himself to propagate them for his own use. For this 

 purpose very extensive ami laborious researches have been 

 undertaken. Various kinds of evidence had lo be examined. 

 Ancient history, ancient sculpture, and ancient monuments 

 all helped to throw light on the subject : books of travi 1 

 and botanical science afforded another means of defining 

 tin history of cultivated'plants ; while a third and verj 

 valuable source of information lay in a study of the 

 parative philology of plant names. To competently ran- 

 vass all these witnesses as to the facta of the ease iu re- 

 ference to each particular plant implied tin possession of 

 wide general culture, and alons. de Candole may bi ei 



led on the success attending bis w.nk. More than 

 a quarter of a century has bepn devoted to its careful 

 elaboration. By patiently bringing together every little 

 scrap of evidence, the author lias succeeded in tracing the 

 careers of what, may be termed our domestic plants to 

 very remote periods. Some of his assertions may be ques- 

 tioned on minor points, but the book may be taken .is 

 ree, rding everything that is known or kuowable in refer- 

 ence to the history of cultivated plants. To afford readers 

 an idea of the results brought out, the following table may 



