generally figured in microscopical works, but it seemed to have disap- 

 peared from commerce, for he was unable to obtain a sample from 

 several of the principal wholesale druggists. But this was not the 

 case with English arrowroot, which, being only potato starch, was 

 readily obtained, and sometimes changed its name for that of West 

 Indian arrowroot. Another curiosity was Portland arrowroot, which 

 was made in Portland Island, from the root of Arum Maculatum, and 

 yet another was Tahita arrowroot, made by the converts of the 

 missionary, John Williams, from the tubers of Tacca oceanica. 

 These, then, together with some more common starches, such as those 

 of peas, beans, wheat, &c., would be exhibited, and he thought he had 

 said all that he need say concerning starch. 



Mr. T. W. WONKOR enquired whether much of the disease to 

 which infants were subject arose from their being fed upon different 

 foods, consisting principally or altogether of starch, mixed with water 

 instead of milk .'' 



Mr. Smith : There was no doubt much illness and even death 

 had resulted from infants being fed on some so-called cornflowers 

 mixed with water alone. 



The meeting then became a conversazione, when Mr. Smith, Mr. 

 Wonfor, Mr. Dennant, and Mr. Glaisyer exhibited the various kinds 

 of starches, provided by Mr. Smith, and shown under polarised light. 

 They comprised the largest grain of the starch from Canna cdnlis, the 

 skin of the potato, ginger presenting starch grains //; sitic, and other 

 objects mentioned in the paper read. Salep — the root of different 

 kinds of orchids, used in India instead of arrowroot, and a few years 

 ago, before the establishment of early coffee-houses in London, sold 

 under the name of " Sallop " — which contained a kind of arrowroot, 

 was also exhibited. 



