SALT PANS OF THE COAST REGION. t8l 



is accounted for by the fact that inland (say 400 miles) they are 

 favoured with 2^0 working days in a year, a dry climate, and a 

 rarefied atmosphere. 



1 would strongly advise a visit to the salt-pans first in winter 

 and then again in summer. In the winter one sees the lake full 

 of water, of a slightly briny taste. In the summer the water is 

 of a stronger brine, given a few days warm dry weather, when 

 the surface water evaporates and leaves a sheet of salt covering 

 the whole pan. 



Clu YTIA Simi lis. — At a recent meeting of the Chemical 

 Society ( London) Tutin and Clewer communicated the results 

 of a chemical investigation of Cluytia similis Muell. Arg. pro- 

 cured from East London. The shrub has a reputed value as an 

 antidote for anthrax and also for snake-bite poisoning. 

 Smith, in his " South African Materia Medica " * refers 

 to what is apparently this species of Cluytia. The plant 

 was found to be devoid of alkaloid in every part, but 

 in its above-ground portions a small amount of an essential oil 

 was found, possessing a strong rank odour. In addition to 

 chrysophanol, fumaric acid, and apparently a trace of salicylic 

 acid, a new acid was isolated, possessing the composition 

 Ci H 10 O 4 . A new ester was also extracted from the plant, having 

 the formula C 49 H^0. 2 , for which the name Cluytyl cluytinate is 

 proposed, as it is formed by the combination of two new com- 

 pounds, cluytyl alcohol (C.>-H,-, 7 OH) and Cluytinic acid 

 (CaotLn CO9H). A new phytosterol, which it is proposed to de- 

 signate Cluytiasterol was separated in large colourless leaflets. 

 and gave the formula CotH^OH. There was also isolated a new 

 tetrahydric alcohol, proposed to be called cluytianol ; its com- 

 position is C-,H„,0 (OH)), A fuller description of the new com- 

 pounds isolated during the course of the investigation will lie 

 found in the Journal of the Chemical Society, vol. 101, pp. 222 [- 

 2234. The investigation was performed in the Wellcome Chemi- 

 cal Research Laboratories. 



TRANSACTIONS OF SOCIETIES. 



Chemical, Metallurgical and ^ r ixixr; Society of Soi'th Africa. — 

 Saturday, October roth : Mr. H. A. White. Vice-President, in the chair. — 

 " Farming with dynamite " : W. Cullen. The application of explosives t" 

 farming operations was generally discussed, and the explosives best adapted 

 fir subsoiling, stump blasting and other agricultural operations were 

 considered, as well as the special tools and appliances required for such 

 purposes. 



South African Institute of Elf.ctrical Engineers. — Thursday, June 

 20th: J. H. Rider. V.P.I.E.E., President, in the chair. — "A few examples 

 of electrically-operated mechanical appliances " : H. Collens. The author 



* 189") edition, pp. 56 and 57. 



