4y"S HARK AND SEED OIL OF IRTCHILIA EMETIC A. 



iKjiie were found, a portion of the filtrate was tested with 

 FehHng's solution, which showed the presence of glucose. It 

 also orave crystals with phenylhydrazine acetate. 



A weighed portion was extracted with water, and an esti- 

 mation of the tanning matter made by means of hide powder. 

 Tlie following results were obtained : — 



Total solids 22.32 ])er cent. 



Solids not tannin i.S-SO per cent. 



Tannin 6.82 per cent. 



The ]uirgative action of the bark is probably due to the 

 large (|uantity of resinous ma-tter. A quantity wei^yhing 20 grams 

 was digested in alcohol, and the resultant extract mixed witli 

 food and given to a guinea-pig without fatal result. 



vSuMMARV. 



Tlie sul)stance yielded about 12 i)er cent, of extractive 

 matter to alcohol, which consisted of a rather refractory resin 

 containing a quantity of protocatechuic acid ; the aqueous solu- 

 tion contained small quantities of glucose, but neither alkaloids 

 nor glucosides were found. An ac|ueous infusion ctintained 22.32 

 ]K'r cent, total solids, comprising 6.82 per cent, of tannin. 



Cosmic Evolution. — According to the Joiumol of ihr 



Briiish .Istroiioniical .Association, a i)a])er read by Mr. J. II. 

 leans before the Royal Astronomical Societ}-, and dealing pri- 

 -niaril}- with spiral nebul?e, leads to some interesting negative 

 results as regards the origin of the solar s_\steni. If gas be 

 ejected into a vacuum, it will condense gravitationally only if 

 thrown out with stifficient rajndity and in sufficient amounts. In 

 the first case the outpouring of matter would have to be so rapid 

 that it woukl take weeks only for a mass ecjual to that of the earth 

 to be ejected. In the second case, if the matter thrown off from a 

 large nebula of low density is condensed at all, it will condense 

 into masses comi)arable with that of the Sun : we should not have 

 l)lanets generated, but streams of stars. Thus, if the results to 

 which this i)aper seems to point, be established, we must conclude 

 that the rotational hy])othesis, introduced first to explain the solar 

 system, seems able to ex])lain almost everything excei)t the solar 

 svstem. 



