106 ODOROGRAPHIA. 



bractes. The size of the different parts of the plant varies 

 considerable according to the more or less favourable conditions of 

 soil and climate in which it grows. In Demerara, where the plant 

 succeeds very well under cultivation, the fruit attains the size of a 

 fine pear, whilst in some parts of Western Africa its dimensions 

 scarcely exceed those of a large almond; a stunted appearance 

 which at one time led to the belief of its being a distinct variety. 

 The pericarp is thick and fleshy, enclosing a colourless acid pulp of 

 agreable taste, in which are lodged the numerous shining, hard, 

 wrinkled, brownish -red seeds, which are rather variable in form, 

 being roundish or ovate and frequently bluntly angular. They are 

 used by the natives as a condiment, and in Europe for giving an 

 artificial sensation of strength to spirits, wine, beer and vinegar 

 and a piquant flavour to cordials and liqueurs. 



The distilled oil of the seeds was known and used medicinally in 

 the commencement of the seventeenth century* ; the yield is very 

 small, only about 0-30 per cent. It is a neutral yellow oil, of 

 agreeable odour similar to that of the seeds and of the same 

 aromatic taste, but without the bitterness. Its composition and 

 physical properties have been recorded as followsf : — Its sp. gr. at 

 15-5^0. is 0-825. It is but slightly soluble in alcohol, either 

 absolute or diluted, but forming with carbon disulphide a clear 

 liquid and dissolving iodine without explosion. On saturating it 

 with dry hydrochloric acid gas, no solid compound is formed. It 

 commences to boil at about 236^0. and the greatest part distils 

 between 2b7^ and 258°C., leaving a thick brown residue. 

 Examined in a 50-millimetre tube, the crude oil deviates the polar- 

 ised ray 1^-9 to the left. The portion distilling above 257^-258^ 

 deviates it 1^-2 and the residue 2^ to the left. These optical 

 properties lead to the conclusion that it is an homogenous body, — 

 an opinion which was corroborated by the results of three elemen- 

 tary analyses which resulted in the formula CooHggO or C^o 

 Hig-fCjQHjgO (F. and H. in the work cited, who further 

 observe) : — With a view of ascertaining whether the seeds contained 

 any fixed oil, ten grams were pulverised with quartz and exhausted 

 with boiling ether. On evaporating the ether, 0'583 gram of 

 brown viscous residue was obtained, which was almost odourless, 



* Porta, " De Distillatione, Romre, 160S, lib. iv. c. 4. 

 t F. and H. Hist, des Drogues, ii. p. 459. 



