(96) 



these specimens were presented by the American Chicle Company, of New 

 York. 



2145. Chicle gum in the crude state in which it is imported. 



2146. Another sample of the same. 



2147. An original package of the same as imported from Mexico. Presented by 



the India Rubber World. 



2148. Refined chicle gum. The preceding after having been boiled and strained 



to remove its impurities. 



2149. Prepared chicle gum. The preceding, sweetened and flavored in prepara- 



tion for pressing into commercial forms for chewing. 



2150. Commercial chewing-gum as sold for use. 



2151. Another sample of crude chicle presented by R. L. Johnston, of New York 

 City. 



2152. The preceding, boiled and purified. Same donor. 



2153. Spruce gum. The oleo-resin exuded by Picea mariana. (See No. 798). 



This is the original American chewing-gum. Collected by H. H. Rusby 

 at Marlboro, New Hampshire, September, 1919. 



2154. Pine balls. — The oleo-resin exuded by Pinus caribaea Morelet. Native of the 



West Indies. 



2155. Chew-stick. — The stem of Gouania lupuloides domingensis (Rhamnaceae — 



Buckthorn Family). Native of the West Indies. The stem is largely 

 chewed by the natives. 



Beverages, Including Chocolate 



Beverages are liquids drunk to allay the sensation of 

 thirst, without regard to any nourishment that they may 

 contain. Such a substance as milk is therefore both a 

 food and a beverage, while water is purely a beverage. 

 The sensation of thirst is a demand from the entire system 

 for water. A number of beverages of vegetable origin 

 consist of pure or almost pure water, and are devoid of 

 taste and nourishing properties. 



Numbers 2 156-2 158 represent aqueous beverages of vegetable origin. 



2156. Traveler's palm. — This is the leaf-base of Ravenala madagascariensis J. F. 



Gmel. (Musaceae — Banana Family). Native of the tropics of the 

 Old World and cultivated. The base of the leaf-stem of this plant is 

 hollow and becomes filled with water, which remains stored until a dry 

 season, when it is required for use. Travelers, when in need of water, 

 readily obtain it by tapping one of these hollow leaf-stems. 



2157. Bamboo joint. — Many species of bamboos possess the habit of storing up 



water in their hollow stems for use when needed, and this may be obtained 

 by the traveler in the same way as from the preceding. 



2158. Young coconuts. (See No. 441). — Coconuts in the young condition consist 



merely of a shell filled with liquid. This liquid has a slightly acidulous 



