148 Tue Java BEAN. 
‘Java beans,’ but also with Burmah beans, is being published in 
the forthcoming number of the ‘ Bulletin,’ in which this is again 
being pointed out. 
“With regard to your second question, I am to say that ex- 
porters of ‘Java beans’ appear to be aware of the dangerous 
nature of the beans, and importers in this country have been told 
by their Java correspondents that the beans can be rendered 
innocuous by boiling. It is very doubtful whether this precaution 
is of any real value. When the beans are boiled for a long time 
the ferment is rendered inactive, but the glucoside appears to 
remain intact. 
“Such boiled ‘ Java beans’ do not, therefore, when ground 
and moistened, spontaneously liberate prussic acid, but it is im- 
possible to say that the glucoside would not be decomposed with 
the liberation of prussic acid by the gastric juice in the stomachs 
of the animals when the boiled beans are eaten. It is also pos- 
sible that a ferment similar to that existing naturally in ‘ Java 
beans’ may also exist in other fodders or feeding-stuffs which 
might be given to the animals along with the boiled beans. If a 
fodder containing such a ferment were used in conjunction with 
boiled ‘ Java beans,’ then the latter would be just as dangerous as 
before, since the added ferment would decompose the glucoside 
in the boiled beans, liberating the prussic acid.—I am, yours 
faithfully, 
“Tuomas A. HENRY, Principal Assistant, 
“ Scientific and Technical Department.’’ 
Information may be obtained in following papers, etc. :— 
“ Bulletin of Imperial Institute,’’? vol. I., pp. 15 and 112, and 
pp. 16 and 115; Proc. Royal Society, vol. 72, p. 285; Church 
Foodgrains of India; Watt Economic Dictionary of Products of 
India. The forthcoming number of the “ Bulletin of Imperial 
Institute ’’ is to contain a further account of the Java beans. 
Mr John Maxwell, travelling commissioner, Gold Coast 
Colony, said he had experience of all the natives of Africa, and he 
thought there were no persons that he had come across who knew 
what was good or bad for feeding stuff better than the natives of 
Java, Madagascar, and Mauritius. If they imported these beans 
for feeding purposes into this country, they knew perfectly well 
that they were not good, and it was the Government’s duty to stop 
the importation. 
