SEMEN GYNOCARDI^. 75 



Chemical Composition — The most interesting body in canella is 

 the volatile oil, examined in 1843 under "VVohler's direction by Meyer 

 and Von Eeiche, who obtained it in the proportion of 0'94 from 100 

 parts of hark. They found it to consist of four different oils, the first 

 being identical with the Eugenol or Eugenic Acid of oil of cloves; the 

 second is closely allied to the chief constituent of cajuput oil. The other 

 oils require further examination.^ 



The bark, of which we distilled 20 lb., afforded 0*74 per cent, of oil 

 Ibis when distilled with caustic potash in excess was found to be 



posed 



1 part of the neutral 



hydrocarbon ; the latter has an odour suggesting a mixture of pepper- 

 mint and cajaput. 



Meyer and Von Eeiche evaporated the aqueous decoction of canella, 

 and removed from the bitter extract by alcohol 8 per cent, of mannite, 

 which they ascertained to be the so-called Canellin described in 1822 

 by Petroz and Robinet. 



The bark yielded the German chemists 6 per cent, of ash, chiefly 

 carbouate of calcium. The bitter principle has not yet been isolated. 

 An aqueous infusion is not blackened by a persalt of iron. 



Commerce — Canella alba is collected in the Bahama Islands and 



shipped to Europe from Nassau in New Providence, the chief seat of 



trade in the group. In 1876 the export of the bark amounted to 

 125 cwt. 



Uses — The bark is an aromatic stimulant, now but seldom em- 

 ployed. It is used by the West Indian negroes as a condiment. 



BIXINE^. 



SEMEN GYNOCARDIiE- 



Chavbhnugva Seed. 



Botanical Origin — Gynocardia odorata K Br. {Chaulmoogra 

 ^^^KHydnocarpus Lindl), a large tree^ with a globular fruit of the 



^ tnence aiongj 



H 



"i_» biidaaocK, coQtammg numerous 

 grows m the forests of the Malayan penin 

 o^rth as Assam, extendin 

 Westward to Sikkim. 



{^^^ ,^^^ory— The inhabitants of the south-eastern countries of Asia 



ve long been acquainted with the seeds of certain trees of the tribe 



/i^?eo3 (ord. Bixinecc) as a remedy for maladies of the skin. In 



«iDa a seed called Ta-fimg-tsze ia imported from Siam^ where it is 



'Fi/ f' ^^'^"^'^^n/, xiv. (I860) 210. 1871. Sir Joseph Hooker {Beport on the 



^/ant^'v,!^ o?^y '^^^^ Trimen, Medic. Royal Gardens at Kew, 1877, p. 33) has 



-^'tu-Com, . A^^7)- Also in Christy, been informed by Mr. Pierre, the director 



* The p^^'' Pl-ants, '^o. 2 (1878). of the Botanic Garden at Saigon, Cochin- 



^^ul.Q^JT^V'.'^^'^l ^^Port from H.M. china, that the seeds have proved to derive 

 preaent 



^'"at 48 neonl rp J?:°^^"*' ^^^- 1872, states also our article 

 *«re exDor+i^ IWOOlb. ) of Lukrabow seed^ Papers, p. 235. 

 ^^Ported from Bangkok to China in 



from a Hydnocarpua (Gyaocardia). — ^See 



