130 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. — 
° E : rs 
gives an infusion much resembling tea both in odorand taste. Itseems 
to-contain no ajkaloid, although the amount for examination was quite 
smalii. The odorous principle of the plant is extracted by ether, and is a Sy 
volatile oil. The presence of a small quantity of tannic acid gives an- 
astringent taste to the infusion of this plant. 
7. “Labrador Tea,” Ledum latifolium, received from James W. Taylor, 
United State Consul, Winnipeg. This plant contains no theine or other 
alkaloid, nor does its infusion very closely resemble tea. 
In all of the substitutes for tea and coffee thus far examined, the 
_ properties that most commend them seem to be due to the volatile oil © 
and tannin invariably present. In fact, these are the constituents in 
tea which most modify its taste and odor. The theine present in good 
teas seems to bear Httle relation to their commercial valve or to their’ 
acceptability to consumers. . 
EXAMINATION OF LEAVES OF “INK-BERRY” (ILEX GLABRA), RECEIVED 
FROM 8S. W. CARSON, FORT MEADE, FLORIDA. 
Volatile cine ehlorophyll, white wax, yellow resin. ......-- ~~. «<sese eose0s w= so=6 7.6 
Signy (ibe bitter principle) -..- 55-2. 255.22 sacces feccce essen ase eee eee 36. 09 
MAREN Gs BEI: soso ooo ea os owinoe eee cee es ae ee seer a ae ee ane eaters eee ee ee «. de tOue 
Wellow résin (ilixanthin ?)'ss22. 5 2.!- (22s ee Seite sl eee ee ee 9. 84 
ee es oe ee eer ere eee ecto 5.73 
Gormay(Ginid Vicie acid }): -sass250 2205 eosesl Sot. 2225.2 st oe tees coe eenee es Soeoee 3.42 
BiegeCAY ANC JSOMETS - << 2-22 25 nj Semen en aoe enes maenieenelngeleae me saeee eer 
hee supsiance, soluble in alkalies oon. oe aoe Sole nie sem eyelet setae 2.50 
Cet WlOse ako eno nae css wamiemmwne mew ae on oe micn aco sade gee Ue ete ee LL 
PANAMA OIG, IN ALDOT yao ae ala mois ww sane emia a 6,2 @ min Slayer a= elaine ah ee lel ee 5. 60 
fT, Rd RS ee te Me oy ee Ie ee ee tr a ed Gnd Tokai 2.54 
IMG@NIEE attic awe s cans oe tare aon mone auc conmlcooln sae Coe oate = te TaLE 
99. 50 
No alkaloid was found. 
The medicinal value of these leaves probably depends very largely 
upon the bitter principle (ilicin), which is present in large amount. It is 
very probable, also, that the proportions both of ilicin and Mxanthin 
may vary greatly with the time of the year when the leaves are gathered. 
The leaves of Ilex aquafolium, a closely related plant, contain in August 
large amounts of ilixanthin, and in January very small amounts. 
The leaves of Jlex aquafolium have been highly praised by French 
practitioners as of value in the treatment of intermittent fevers, and it 
seems probable that these leaves of Ilex glabra may have similar proper- 
ties; in chemicai composition they are very similar. 
EXAMINATION OF LEAVES OF TURNERA APHRODISIACA (VASEY AND 
WARD). 
These leaves have an aromatic odor, resembling turpentine, a pungent 
and slightly bitter taste; they contain no distinct starch granules, but 
there is a small amount of amorphous substance which is colored blue 
by iodine. The proximate constituents determined were: a soft resin, 
soluble in ether; 2 volatile oil; chlorophyll; a hard brown resin, insolu-” 
ble in ether, soluble in absolute and eighty per cent. alcohol; sugar and 
red coloring matter; a peculiar tannic acid; a bitter substance; gum; 
starch isomers; aibuminoids; cellulose, and humus-like substances solu- 
Ble in alkaline hydrates. The amount of gum is quite large. The bitter 
substance is now being investigated. The albumen was determined 
from total nitrogen. 
a 
