398 SGITAMINEM. 



m 



as thick as tlie finger, with a few fleshy rootlets. Internally 

 both central and lateral rhizomes are of a deep orange colour 

 like turmeric ; the odour of the root is strongly camphoraceous. 



MicroscojnG structure. — Similar to that of turmeric. 



Chemical composition, — The drug yielded to analysis : 

 Ether extract (essential oil, fat, and soft resins)... 12-06 



Alcoholic extract (sugar, resins) ,.. 1-14 



Water extract (gum, acids, &c) 6*50 



Starch 



23-46 



Crude fibre ^... 8*42 



Ash 



4-46 



Moisture , 13-33 



Albuminoids, modifications of arabin, &c 30*63 



100-00 



The root had an odour of ginger; curcimiin was present. 

 The water extract gave a crystalline precipitate with lead 

 acetate, which was found to be due to the presence of malic acid. 



Commerce. — The plant is chiefly grown at Alwaye, North- 

 east of Cochin, and is also collected in Mysore, Wynaad, and 

 other localities in Southern India for export to Europe as a 

 substitute for turmeric to be used in dyeing. It is exported 

 from Cochin and Bombay. Value, Es. 24 to 25 per candy of 

 5^ cwts. for the unpeeled root, Rs. 27 to 28 when peeled. 



A European firm of Druggists in Bombay, writing to London 

 for the ingredients to make Warburgh's fever tincture, was 

 supplied with this article as Zedoary. 



Exports of Turmeric from Cochin : 



Europe, &c. India, Burma, &c. Total ewts, 



1884-85 5,154 6,361 11,515 



1885-80 7,610 2,776 10,386 



1886-87 6,031 1,967 7,998 



1^87-88 2,356 2,039 4,395 



1^88-89 459 1^817 2,276 



^^^^-^0 2,013 6,704 8,717 



