214 



BOSACE^. 



^ Gautier (1877) also obtained the two latter products, but he is of the 

 opinion that they are due to a somewhat different reaction, the formula 

 of catechin, as derived from his analyses, being C'ff'Ol He also as- 

 serts that the so-called catechin from Uncaria (see Gambler) is not 

 identical with the substance under notice, nor with that found in tlie 

 Mahogan wood, to which Gantier assigns the formula C'^H^'O". 



Crystallized deposits of catechin are sometimes met with in fissures 

 of the trunk of Acacia Catechu, and used medicinally in India under the 

 name Keersal} 



Lowe (1873), by exhausting cutch with cold water and then agita- 

 ting the solution with ether, obtained upon the evaporation of the latter 

 a yellow crystalline substance which he ascertained to be Quemtin, 

 (^27ui8Qi2_^ Its solubility in water is probably favoured by the presence 

 of catechin, water having but very little action upon pure quercetin. 

 The amount of quercetin in cutch is exceedingly small. 



When either cutch or gambler is subjected to dry distillation it 

 yields, in common with many other substances, Pyrocatechin, C^H'(OH)'. 



ommerce— The importations of cutch into the United Kingdom 



from Britisl 



as under, almost the whole b'eing from Bengal and Burma : 



Ceylon) 



1869 



22.")7 tons. 



1870 

 o252 tons. 



1871 

 ■1335 tons. 



1872 

 5240 tons. 



£124,458. 



1872 



Uses — Cutch under the 



name 



of Catechu, which name it shares 



with gambler, is employed in medicine as an astringent. 



Analogous Products— See our articles Semen Arecre and Gambipr. 



EOSACEJE. 



AMYGDALiE DULCES. 



ATYiande 



Siisse 



Botanical Origin—Prunus 



Minor 



Amygdalus Baillon' var. /8. i^f^, 

 \^mygamus communis L. var. ^.dulcis DC.)— The native country ottn^ 

 almond cannot be ascertained with precision. A. de CandoUe, a « 

 reviewing the statements of various authors concerning the occurrren 

 pt the tree m an apparently wild state, arrives at the conclusion ii^ 

 Its origmal area possibly extended from Persia, westward to Asia Mi 

 and Syria, and even to Algeria. The tree is found ascending to w 

 teet m the Antilebanon, to 3000 in Mesopotamia, and even to 90W i« 

 m the Avroman range, not far from Sulemania, Southern Kurdistan. 

 At an early period the tree was spread throughout the entire m- 

 ten-ancan region, and in favourable situations, far into the continent^ 

 £.urope. It was apparently introduced into Italy from Greece 



^Dymock P7i. Journ. vii. (1876) 109 

 1869^ f kt.'"'""" ^^°"^^''- '^^ i-c--. 



here 



*m\L\eT, Flora Orkntoh.'',^^.{^^i 



