WINTER'S-BARK. 



311 



bark is not collected in the Straits of Magellan ; that the same 

 is collected, on the contrary, and moreover is in use, in Chili 

 where it is known as Canelo, as also in New Granada and 

 Mexico. 



From these countries, specially -from New Granada, it comes 

 occasionally to Europe, and I have more than once seen this 

 bark in London, where it is bought at a very low price under 

 the name of Pepper-bark, its origin being unknown. 



With reference to the ordinary bark of commerce, I am of 

 opinion with Henkel, that this name is by no means properly 

 selected. On the contrary, I do not consider it the bark of any 

 Canella, much less still of Canella alba, Murr., which last also is 

 very sufficiently distinguished by the chemical behaviour of its 

 decoction (as Henkel himself points out). 



The true source of this bark has puzzled all pharmacologists 

 who were convinced of its difference from Drimys ; and the un- 

 certainty was the greater as- the spot w r here this bark, which has 

 ceased to be an imported article, occurs, for a long time remained 

 unknown. 



In consequence of the Paris Industrial Exhibition, and of the 

 importation of numerous colonial products thereby induced, re- 

 liable data were obtained which definitely settled these questions. 

 The Winter's-bark of commerce comes from Cinnamodendron 

 corticosum, Miers. (Annals and Magazine of Natural History, 

 May, 1858, Grisebach, Flora of the British West Indian Islands, 

 vol. i. p. 109), a tree growing in Jamaica, of the family Canel- 

 lacese. This tree, which attains a height of 40 to 50 feet, is 

 known on that island as Wild Cinnamon, a name which there is 

 also given to Canella alba, and hence is well cleared up in part 

 the confusion that has so long prevailed in this matter. Should 

 we want a chemical proof in order to separate the Cinnamoden- 

 dron from the Drimys bark, we use for the purposa the Tincture 

 of Iodine, which, in the decoction of the Cinnamodendron bark, 

 gives a black, in the Drimys, on the other hand, a brown pre- 

 cipitate. 



Dr. Henkel's third conclusion, that though perhaps Cortex 

 Canellce alboc may not be identical with the Cortex Winter- 



1862. 



Commercial 



Doubts re- 



origin. 



cosum. 



