624 BORAGINE. 
Chemical composition.—Like others of the same family thes e 
plants afford a nitrogenous substance, differing from gluten, 
the solution of which in boiling water solidifies on cooling, and 
is precipitated by acids sleltaline earths, and most salts, whilst 
tannin merely clouds ‘i. ‘The ash contains silica, lime, magne- 
sia, potash and soda, in combination with enrnanie sulphuric 
_ and phosphoric acids and chlorine. 
Several other plants belonging to this Seti are used as 
substitutes for Borage, such as Onosma echioides and . 
iO. bracteatum i in Northern India (Stewart, Royle), Helio- : 
Aspptum ophioglossum i in Sind (Stve ~ 
eee : - ALKANET, 
This colouring matter was well known to the Greeks and 
Romans as éyoveaand Anchusa. It is mentioned by Theophras- 
tus (vil., 9), Dioscorides (iv., 35, 36) and Pliny (22, 23). Dios- 
-_corides describes three kinds; it was used chiefly to colour 
“medicines. Iba Sina ealls it bagel (anjusa); he gives Khass- 
‘el-himar “ ass’s lettuce” as the, Arabic name, and quotes 
_Galen’s opinion of its medicinal properties ; he also mentions 
several other names for the different kinds of alkanet. ‘The 
author of the Makhzan-el-Adwiya, in his article upon Abn-Kalsa, 
_ gives various names for the four kinds of alkanet described by 
-Mahometan writers ; he states that Harjuya is the Persian, and 
_ Ratanjot the Biiee name for them. In India the roots of 
i Onosmna, Hookeri, Clarke, and of a species of Arnebia from 
a hanistan, are known as Rang-i -i- -badshah, “king” s dye,” and 
oo jot, and dre chiefly used ie colouring medicinal oils, &c ; 
ee third kind of alkanet i is imported from China, and consists of | 
_ long, woody, twisted roots like the alkanet of Europe, which 
is chiefly derived from Alkanna tinctoria, Tausch, and | is i 
Orcanette of th Frenc on 
WS yaa ns oo rb: 
