CALUMBA WOOD. 57 



The specific gravity of the two oils is so nearly alike, as to issi. 

 afford no distinctive criterion. That of oil of origanum is 

 8854, of oil of thyme (average of three samples) '8934, at 62 

 Fahr. 



ON AN ARTICLE IMPORTED AS CALUMBA WOOD, 



SUPPOSED TO BE THE PRODUCE OF A 



MENISPERMUM. 



(Calumba-Holz aus Sild America.) 



SOME months since there was imported into London from Calumba 

 the island of Ceylon, under the name of Calumba Wood, a 

 quantity of woody stems cut into lengths of from twelve to 

 eighteen inches, and varying in diameter from one to four 

 inches. The article was not wholly unknown to druggists, a 

 small quantity having appeared in the 

 market some years before. 



This wood, which is covered with a 

 thin, pale, corky bark, is of a bright 

 greenish-yellow colour, slightly bitter 

 taste, and devoid of odour. A trans- 

 verse section shows a small compact 

 medulla, surrounded by very porous 

 woody tissue, traversed by remarkably 

 distinct medullary rays, each of which 

 divides at its outer extremity into two (Natural 



, , . , , . , . This cut has been prepared from an 



layers, which diverge and form arches impression taken from the wood it- 



self 



by uniting with the corresponding 



prolongations of the adjoining rays. Between some of the prin- 

 cipal rays, smaller imperfect rays are occasionally^ observable. 

 The heads of the arches are occupied by a loose, shrunken 

 tissue, very different from the mature wood, with which, however, 

 it is in immediate contact. There is no appearance of concentric 

 zones. 



This peculiarity of structure rendered it probable that the Cal- 

 umba wood might be afforded by some plant of one of the three 

 natural orders, Ptperacece, Aristolochiacece, or Menispermacece. 



Transverse Section of Calumba Wood. 

 il size.) 



