344 
2. In having greater sweetening powers. ; 
In beitig capable of being employed just as it is found in 
its natural state, by using the leaves crushed to powder 
4. In the fact that it could be put on the market at a much 
lower price than saccharine. 
e glucoside, which is the principal sweetening substance, 
should be known by the name of estevin, rather than by that of 
r 
it would be interesting and perhaps profitable to make trial of 
the plant in the West Indies. Dr. Bertoni says that it could be 
Several plants are known which have uncommon properties in 
relation to the sense of taste in human beings. Sideroxylon 
that citric or tartaric acids, lime juice, Vaneger, and all immature 
- fruit of a sourish character lose their unpleasant qualities, and 
taste as if they had been solely composed of saccharine matter. 
and acidulated kankies more palatable and in bestowing a 
Sweetness on sour palm-wine. No records of chemical analyses 
of this plant have been traced, but a description of it i an 
-account of its distribution will be found in the Kew Bulletin, 
1906, p. 171. Thaumatococcus Danielli, Benth., is said to have 
somewhat similar properties to those described for Sideroxylon 
dulcificum. 
_A plant with opposite properties is the Indian Gymnema 
stlvestre, R. Br., a member of the Asclepiadaceae, It ha 
greenish flower and thick, fleshy leaves, and, like most of the 
‘plants of this order, it produces a milky juice. When the leaves 
are chewed, sweet and acrid tastes cannot be perceived for some 
hours afterwards. An account of the chemical analysis of the 
leaves and fruits is iven in the Pharm. ourn., 1904, 19, p. 234. 
It is there shown th gymnemic acid is the substance which 
