1 90 PLANT AND ORGANIC CHEMISTRY 



Pounds. Value. 



1884 2,588,307 $718,035 



1885 3,559,691 913,189 



Of sulphate of quinia : Ounces. Value. 



1884 1,263,732 $1,610,163 



1885 1,390,126 1,292,794 



Other salts of quinia : Ounces. Value. 



1884 712 $1,038 



1885 5,435 1,868 



Cinchonidia : Ounces. Value. 



1884 381,885 $206,405 



1885 478,747 220,846 



A New York firm 1 has recently introduced upon the mar- 

 ket quintessential oils; the odorous principle of these oils is 

 due to the stearoptens or camphors, which readily separate 

 from the more volatile portions. 



It has been suggested, owing to the scarcity of gum arabic, 

 to introduce upon the market a gum 2 from a Mexican tree, 

 called the mesquite. This gum exudes from the stem and 

 branches during the summer months. The analysis of this 

 gum offers several interesting features: amongst others its 

 solutions can be combined with basic lead acetate and ferric 

 salts, without being precipitated, and, it is suggested, for this 

 reason, as more applicable in medicine than gum arabic. It 

 is probable that, in time, gum mesquite will become a com- 

 mercial article of importance. 



We are indebted to plants for our tea, coffee, and chocolate 

 supply, and these articles may be reckoned among our foods; 

 for one or all are used by every people. 



In Spain, chocolate is looked upon as a necessity. The 

 Spaniard may be seen making his early breakfast with a slice 

 of bread spread with a thick paste of chocolate. The smiling- 

 faced "cocinero" told me how he prepared it, by carefully 



1 Fritzsche Brothers. 



2 "Products of the Mesquite," by H. J. Schuchard. Amer. Jour. Pharm., 

 November, 1885, p. 542. 



