APPENDIX. 167 
or the sulphate was suspended in 10 per cent. potassium hydrate 
solution and treated with 4 per cent. potassium permanganate, 
until the green colour disappeared only slowly. The mixture 
was then filtered, acidified with sulphuric acid, extracted with ether, 
this evaporated and residue recrystallized from water. This proved 
to be benzoic acid. (Am, Journ, Pharm,, July, 1890.) 
PRIMULACEAS. 
Anagallis arvensis. 
A. Schneegas (Journ, Pharm. von Els, Lothr., 1891, 171) has 
separated from this plant two glucosides identical with those obtain- 
ed from quillaia and senega. The plant is said to be used in Mexico 
as a substitute for soapwort. 
SAPOTACEA, 
Indian Gutta-percha. 
The natural sources of supply of gutta-percha, and the possibility of 
their exhaustion, were referred to in the Kew Reports, 1876 (p. 23); 
1887 (pp. 30, 31); ne big: (pp. 38-45), A few trees, natives of the 
Indian peninsula, y less similar to gutta-percha, 
One of these is Dickopsts elliptica, Dalz, ( = Bassia olen fsonandra 
acuminata). 
The following note on this plant appeared in the Report of the Royal 
Gardens, Kew, 1881, p. 44 :-— 
“This tree appears to be common on the Malabar Coast, the forests 
of Coorg, the Wynaad, Travancore, &e. It grows to a-height of 80 or 
90 feet. A substance similar to the gutta-percha of commerce is 
procured by tapping, but the tree requires an interval of rest of some 
hours, or even of days, after frequent incision. In five or six hours 
upwards of 1} ]bs. was collected from four or five incisions, The gum 
is hard and brittle at the ordinary temperature, but becomes sticky 
and viscid on the increase of heat, It is not found applicable to all 
the purposes for which gutta-percha is used, but 20 or 30 per cent, of 
it may be mixed with gutta-percha without destroying its qualities,” 
