368 EBENACEZ. 
water; brown precipitate with cupric acetate ; yellowish brown 
precipitate with potassium dichromate ; aqueous alkalies afforded 
precipitates which changed in colour and became soluble by 
oxidation ; grey precipitate with limewater, turning red by 
exposure to the air ; it reduced the copper when boiled with 
_ Fehbling’s solution. The lead compound of the tannic acid 
contained 48°78 per cent. of oxide, whether prepared from the 
aqueous or alcoholic extract of the fruit. Boiled for two 
hours with dilute hydrochloric acid, the astringent principle 
was decomposed with the formation of two colouring matters 
and a body answering to glucose. The inspissated juice was 
not redissolved entirely even in boiling water, about thirty per 
cent. of pure soluble tannin was obtained from it, the 
remainder was an insoluble gum swelling up like tragacanth. 
The amount of astringent acid obtainable from the fruits 
examined by us was 12°8 per cent., and we consider it to be 
closely related to gallotannic acid. 
Several species of Diospyros have fruit with the astringent 
propertics of D. Embryopteris when unripe. The root of D. 
Tupru is used by the Marath4s to make the Akshata mark 
(the seetarial circles on the forehead), under the name of 
Akshaté ché khor, ‘‘akshata wood.” The leaves are an article 
of commerce, being largely used for folding viri, “ native 
cigarettes.” The fruits contain 5°7 per cent. of tannic acid. 
D. Ebenum affords eeacg i = —— of the Maho- 
- metan Materia Medica. Itisd t, attenuant, 
and lithontriptic, and was used by the ancients. (Cf. Dios. t., 
114; Pliny 12, 8.) 
- The fruits of D, montana contain a very interesting 
colouring matter, which seems to be the chief ingredient besides 
sugar and malic acid but no tannic acic. The colouring 
matter is soluble in spirit and partly so in water, It is 
insoluble in ether, and gives an intense purple with alkalies. 
Subjected to hydrolosis it breaks up into a body soluble in 
ether, also pigmental, and a sugar. The — are used _ oe 
hill-men of Travancore for poisoning fish. 
