428 



tent fevers. Dr Maclagan stated that the tree was untnown to bo- 

 tanists. Sir William Hooker and Dr Lindley had seen the fruit and 

 declared it to be lauraceous, but the author had been unable to find, in 

 Rees V. Esenbeck's Systema Lauriiiarum, any genus or even sub- 

 order of lauraceous plants to which he could refer it. With I'egard 

 to its chemical qualities, Dr M. stated that he had obtained both 

 from the bark and seeds two distinct alkalis, both uncrystallizable, 

 to one of which he applied Mr Rodie's name, Bebeerine ; to the 

 other he gave the name of Sipeerine. They could be separated by 

 anhydrous ether, the bebeerine being soluble in that menstruum, 

 whilst the sipeerine was not. Dr M. had likewise obtained, espe- 

 cially from the seeds, a peculiar crystallizable and deliquescent acid, 

 which he called Bebeeric acid, and which seemed to be distinct from 

 every vegetable acid hitherto described. 



The author stated that he had instituted experiments with a view 

 to ascertain if a soluble salt of the alkalis could be procured, which 

 might be used as a substitute for sulphate of quinine when dear. 

 He stated, as the result of his trials, that the produce did not amount 

 to more than one and a-half of sulphate per cent, from the bark, but 

 lie still calculated that if the bark could be got at a moderate price, 

 the salt of the alkalis might be prepared at a cost inferior to that of 

 sulphate of quinine. Dr Maclagan stated that the bark appeared to 

 be better suited for the purposes of manufacture than the seeds. The 

 author mentioned that sulphate prepared under his directions had 

 been sent out to Demerara, and had been tried there with marked 

 success in intermittent fever by Dr Watt ; he had likewise used it 

 with success in a few cases of ague in Edinburgh, and also in periodic 

 headache, so- that he had no doubt of its possessing considerable 

 power as an antiperiodic remedy. Lastly, he mentioned that a se- 

 cret preparation sold under the name of " Warburg's Fever Drops," 

 reputed a good antiperiodic, appeared to him to be a tincture of be- 

 beeru seeds. 



W. H. Norie, Esq., was duly elected an Ordinary Fellow of 

 the Society. 



The following Donations for the Society's Library were an- 

 nounced. 



The Quarterly Journal of Meteorology and Physical Science. 

 Edited by J. W. G. Gutch, M. R. C. S. No. 6. for April 

 IM^.—Bj the Editor. 



