56 



THE ALUMNI JOURNAL. 



Typical specimens of the three import- 

 ant varieties of Nux vomica, viz., Ceylon, 

 Bombay and Cochin. 



Seven specimens of cubebs showing the 

 four leading commercial grades of the 

 genuine article, besides dust, stalks, and 

 a spurious variety. 



In Nutmegs I have specimens with the 

 mace dried upon them ; others with the 

 testa unbroken, and still others with 

 broken and damaged kernels. 



An interesting variety of pepper, 

 closely related to long pepper, but of 

 globular form, is represented by a very 

 small specimen. 



Two samples of Jaborandi illustrate the 

 inferior Rio and the more new and superior 

 Pernambuco variety. The latter speci- 

 men is presented by Mr. Holmes who is 

 the author of the species of Pilocarpus 

 which yields it. 



A rare occurrence in the London drug 

 market in these days is the appearance of 

 a lot of Sagapenum or Opopanax, but 

 such an occurrence took place just prev- 

 ious to my visit and excellent specimens 

 of both these rare drugs were presented 

 to me by Messrs. Souratty & Co. 



Among the tanning products of recent 

 introduction are the fruits of a species of 

 Terminalia, which are now^ becoming a 

 very important article of commerce in the 

 lyondon market, and of which I exhibit 

 an excellent specimen. 



My collection of Aloes is quite large 

 and complete. The comparative qualities 

 are well indicated on the labels- 



The same thing is true of my collec- 

 tion of Benzoins. 



Among the more recent objects of in- 

 terest in the lyondon drug trade is Senna 

 pods. Up to very recent times these pods 

 have been interesting only as aiding in 

 the identification of the varieties of 

 Senna. They were considered an unde- 

 sirable element and Senna was deemed 

 inferior if any large proportion of them 



were present. Of late years, however, 

 their properties have been investigated 

 and they have been found to have the 

 same properties and to be probably little, 

 if any, inferior to Senna leaves. 



Wild mace is also a very important 

 article of commerce at the present time. 

 L,arge quantities of it are exhibited in 

 bulk at the spice sales, besides other 

 large quantities that are mixed with the 

 genuine mace in its broken form. This 

 is the product of Myristica Malabarica 

 and is almost entirely devoid of aromatic 

 properties. It is not at all difficult to 

 recognize at sight in an entire condition, 

 nor even when broken up if one examines 

 the individual pieces. The entire arillode 

 is much less flattened and its branches 

 are straighter than in the genuine mace. 

 Its surface is bright and shining and its 

 color always deeper and brighter than in 

 mace proper. Mace always presents a 

 grayish red or brown, or perhaps I may 

 better say a dull red or brown color. 

 The wild or Bombaj^ mace varies greatly 

 in shade, three principal colors being 

 recognized, namely, light, medium and 

 dark, or yellow, red and brown. Excel- 

 lent samples of all these three colors are 

 here presented. 



Few experiences were more interesting 

 to me during my entire stay in England 

 than the opportunity afibrded for witness- 

 ing the passing of the ancient trade in Cin- 

 chona bark. The present era bears the 

 same relation to that of a quarter of a 

 century ago concerning this substance, 

 which the trade in woven fabrics does to 

 the state of primeval man when he 

 clothed himself in the skin of animals. 

 A quarter of a centur}^ ago all our Cin- 

 chona bark came from the native forests, 

 and was of comparatively low grade and 

 exceedingly irregular in variety, quality 

 and strength. Much of it was worthless, 

 the most of it poor, and the best of it not 

 to be compared with the average bark of 



