160 APPENDIX, 
Concentrated nitrie acid oxidizes it to oxalic acid. Garrigues gives 
the Fic abo ing formule: Panaquilon C?' H?°0**, Panacon C*?H'’0° 
(O=8). (dm, Journ, Pharm., July, 1890.) 
RUBIACEZ. 
Randia dumetorum. 
Sir J. Sawyer (Lancet, Mar. 21, 1891) has employed a tincture of 
the fruit made with spiritus etheris, B. P., as a nervine-calmative 
and antispasmodic ; the dose is“from 16 to "30 minims in water, but 
the strength is not stated. We have already shown that the drug 
contains saponin and valeric acid, 
Ixora parvifiora. 
P. S. Mootoosawmy has sent us a sample of the bark of this tree, 
with the remark that it is used in native eo mixed with a 
decoction of ginger, for anemic diseases; he suspected the presence 
of iron init. The bark contained a little fatty matter, tannin, red 
colouring matter and 11-5 per cent, of ash consisting of the usual 
constituents, with only a trace of ferric oxide. The decoction of the 
bark was of a deep red colour, which probably suggested its medicinal 
employment. 
Note on Catechu. 
In the Library of the Botanic Garden at Oxford I recently came 
across a book which apparently escaped the observation of the 
indefatigable authors of Pharmacographia, entitled ‘‘ Ehrenfridi 
Hagendornii Medicine D. et Pract. Gorl. Tractatus Physico- 
Medicus de Catechu sive Terra Japonica in vulgus, sic dicta ad 
normam Academie Nature-Curiosorum. Jenw, 1679.” This gives 
very interesting particulars respecting the history, nomenclature, and. 
physical characters of Catechu, 
“De patria Catechu.” The author writes:—* Si Catechu agno- 
men respicias, quod Japonica etiam indigitetur, facilis esset decisio, 
quem agnoseat Jocum natalem. In ambiguo tamen usque est, an in 
Japonica vel preparetur vel aliunde ad J aponenses anaes teter, Ex 
aliis finitimis locis in Malaccam et Sinam exportari.” The italics 
are mine, 
“De differentiis Catechu,” ‘*Duplicis generis quod sciam, in- 
notuit Catechu hactenus. Una magisque communis Catechu species 
