OLEUM ANDROPOGONIS. 



725 



above, would answer to about IG per cent, of albuminous inaitera. Their 

 soluble part seems to be deposited in the starch-cells, next to the gluten- 

 cells, which latter contain the insoluble portion. 



The ash, according to Lermer, contains 29 per cent, of silicic acid, 

 S2'6 of phosphoric acid, 22'7 of potash, and only 37 of lime. In the 

 opinion of Salm-Horstmar, fluorine and lithia are indispensable con- 

 stituents of barley. 



The fixed oil of barley, as proved in 1863 by Hanamann, is a com- 

 pound of glycerin with either a mixture of palmitic and lauric acids, or 

 less probably with a peculiar fatty acid. Beckmaun's Jlojxleinic Acid 

 obtained in 18o5 by distilling barley with sulphuric acid, is probably 

 lauric acid. Lintner (1868) has shown barley to contain also a little 

 Cholesterin (p. 420). 



Lastly, Kiihnemann (1875) extracted from barley a crystallized 

 dextrogyrate sugar, and (1876) an amorphous Isevogyrate mucilaginous 

 substance Sinistrin (see p. 692) ; according to that chemist, dextrm is 

 altogether wanting in barley. 



Barley when malted loses 7 per cent.; it then contains 10 to 12 per 

 cent, of sugar, produced at the expense of the starch; before raaltmg, 

 no sugar is to be found. 



Uses— Barley as a medicine is unimportant. A decoction is some- 

 times prescribed as a demulcent or as a diluent of active remedies. An 

 aqueous extract of malt has been employed. 



OLEUM ANDROPOGONIS. 



Oleum Oraminis IncUci ; Indian Grass Oil 



'droi^og^ 



Botanical Origin-Among the numerous species °f f ^".'^^^^^ 

 which have foliage Ibounding in essential oil, the tollow.ng furnish the 

 fragrant Grass Oils of commerce :— ' . ■ j^ ^ Jq 



1. Andropogon Nardus L.;-a noble-looking P'^.^.'^^J^J^^./ceylon 

 flower to a height of 6 or more feet, extensively cultivated m Oeylon 



and Singapore for the production of Gitronella OU. ,„,,„„„ CTa.s^ 



, 2. /: ^itrahcs D.CV Lemon Gra«s,-a large ^^/^X^^rri 



known only in a cultivated state, and ^ry rarely produc^^^^^^^^^ 



?s grown in Ceylon and Singapore for the ^ake of ts essenUa^ o 



is called Lemon Grass Oil, Oil of Verbena or f^f^aSt^ot unfre- 



also commonly met with in gardens throughout India ana 



quent in English hothouses. In Java it is called -sweA^ 



3. A. &/:«.,»fmiAus L.,^ a grass of Northern and Centi-allnd. , 



^_ H 4 « ^ MM T _ - - J 



. ^lajor-General Munro has at our request 

 investigated the botanical characters of the 

 iragraut species of AndropogoUt and exa- 

 'nined a numerous suite of specimens in our 

 possession. The synonyms in foot-notes 

 are given upon his authority. 



f' J^Jarlini Thwaitos, Emm. Planiarnm 

 ^manioineo aliorum. — Fig. in Bentley and 

 ^rimen's Med. Plants, part 28 (1878). 



A.cHratiim A. P. De Candolle, Catalogus 

 PtttHtarum Horii Botanlci Mons^cUensis, 



1813; A. *'--«'i-^2,T^^^^^^ 

 burgh, Flora ^'"''«' '• <„„ Jdia -bob a. 



Himalayan MmuMM, 1839. tab. »/. 



