GALAXGAL. 91 



read at the British Pharmaceutical Conference.* The portion 

 sohible in petroleum ether, amounting in total to 2-33 per cent., 

 consisted of 0-6 volatile oil, Olo resin and I'oS of a mixture of fat 

 and Galanrjol, the active, pungent principle. In a previous Paper, 

 " On the Pungent Principles of plants,"f Dr. Thresh named this 

 body ^/^jwioZ, and classed it in the same group of bodies \Yi\j\\Paradcl 

 and Gingerol, all of which are readily soluble in 50 per cent, 

 alcohol. In the details of the valuable researches described in 

 the Papers here referred to, the residue soluble in ordinary ether, 

 amounting to 2*62 per cent., was found to be of an exceedingly 

 complex nature, containing : — 



(ci) Ivampferid, galangin, alpinin and probably other bodies, 

 soluble in dilute solution of sodium carbonate and in 

 alcohol, and precipitated from the latter solution by 

 lead acetate. On decomposing the lead precipitate, 

 &c., these substances are easily obtained in the form 

 of minute sulphur-yellow^ coloured crystals ; they 

 amounted to 1*44 per cent. 



(h) Other crystalline bodies closely resembling the above, 

 but not precipitated by lead acetate, amounting to 1-18 

 per cent. 



(c) A small quantity of a black resinous matter, insoluble in 

 sodium carbonate solution. 



The starch amounted to 23-7 per cent., and cellulose to 4072 

 per cent. 



The odour of Alpinia officmarum root resembles the taste of 

 "Grains of Paradise " (seeds oi Amomum Melcgucta). There is a 

 considerable demand for it in Paissia for flavouring a liqueur called 

 Nastoika, and by the Tartars it is taken with tea. Irvine says:|: 

 that in India the natives add it to Bazar Spirit to make it more 

 intoxicating. \ 



It is frequently adulterated with the root of Alpinia Galangct 

 Sw^artz, a Javanese plant which furnishes the Galanga major 

 (" greater Galangal "); the difference is distinguishable by this latter 

 being larger in size, and of pale chamois colour externally, 



* Pharm. Journ. [3] xv. p. 234. 



t Ibid. p. 210. 



t Medical Topography of Ajmeer, p. 171. 



