MEN SPERMA CHA. ; ae 
of bundles of large ae which are more or less surrounded 
by a layer of wood cells. The starch oe ee are YEE large 
and ovoid. 
Chemical composition. —The root contains calumbin, Gecbartie 
and calumbic acid. Calumbin may be obtained by treating 
_ the root with alcohol of 75 per cent., the alcohol is recovered, 
and the residue, after evaporation, dissolved in water, and 
shaken: with ether, which takes up fatty matters and the ~ 
calumbin; the latter is purified by crystallization from boiling . 
: absolute ether; it forms right rhombic prisms, and is neutral — 
and very bitter. Calumbic acid was obtained by Baedecker by — 
adding hydrochloric acid to the product obtained by the treat- 
ment of an alcoholic extract of calumba by lime water; it 
forms strongly acid white crystalline flakes. Both calumbin and 
-calumbic acid are very sparingly soluble in cold water or cold 
alcohol, and ether. (Dict. de Chimie; Wurtz., Vol. 1, p. 959.) 
~Baedecker has pointed out a “connection between theae three 
bitter principles. » 
If we suppose a molecule of ammonia NH* to be added to 
calumbin C+? H** O"*, the complex molecule thence resulting 
will contain the elements of berberine C*° H'? NO*, calumbic 
acid C5? H*§ O7, and water 3 H?2O (Pharmacographia, p. 25). 
- Duquesnel has recently published the following process for, 
obtaining calumbin. Exhaust the powdered root. with 95 
_ - per cent, alcohol, recover the alcohol, treat the syrupy residue 
_ with chloroform. Filter the chloroform solution and evaporate’; 
"treat thé residue with 60 per cent. alcohol which dissolves 
_ most of the colouring matter. The residue, which contains the | 
: ' calumbin, is dissolved in strong alcohol, decolorised with 
animal charcoal and crystallized. The yield should be 0°35 to, 
3 po" 4 per cent. 
»- ° Commerce. ac Osliiaile root is Sicko into Ce from 
the Mozambique Coast to the extent of from 200 to. 400 bales 
annually. 
_ Tho bales aro.of matting, and sciobilie: rer one owt. ie 3 
value sees = per Surat maund of 374 lbs, ‘ 
