534 PALM^. 



by heaf, dissolves freel}^ with a pink colour in alcoTiol, ether 

 and chloroform, but is insoluble in carbon bisulphide and 

 benzene, dissolves readily in cold caustic soda, ammonia and 

 sodium carbonate, and much more readily than the foregoing 

 in lime water. Its alcoholic solution has an acid reaction and 

 gives a lilac-coloured precipitate with lead acetate. Its com- 

 position may be represented by the formula C^^H^^O^. The 

 source of this resin is quite uncertain. We have no means of 

 determining whether it is identical with any hitherto described 

 variety of red resin. The specimens examined are marked as 

 having come from the Dutch East Indies, but beyond this we 

 know nothing of their origin. 



** A third variety is of a vermilion colour, melts about 80 C, 

 gives ofE aromatic irritating fumes when decomposed by heat, 

 dissolves with a blood-red colour in alcohol and ether, but is 

 insoluble in chloroform, carbon bisulphide and benzene, dis- 

 solves readily in cold caustic soda, ammonia, lime water and 

 si)dium carbonate. Its alcoholic solution has an acid reaction 

 and gives with lead acetate a mauve-coloured precipitate. Its 

 composition may be represented by the formula C'^H^O*. 

 This is the resin from a species of Draccena. One of the speci- 

 mens examined is from JDraccena Cinmhan, Socotra, and as 

 it was gathered by Professor Balfour there can be no doubt 

 as to its origin. Another specimen is from Dramm Draco, 

 and Its origin is also well authenticated. The other specimens 

 examined are marked some of them Calamus, but there can be 

 little doubt that this is a mistake, and that all the resins 

 having the properties just enumerated are derived from species 

 of Dratmia. It seems certain then that the resin derived from 



Dracmia is totally different in property from that derived from 

 Calamus. 



"The fourth variety is a mixture, in varying proportions, 

 of a reddish-brown coloured resin, freely soluble in carbon 

 bisulphide, and a light brick-red coloured resin, nearly insoluble 

 in carbon bisulphide. The two portions also differ consi- 



as 



por 



o 



