BRITISH PHARMACEUTICAL CONFERENCE, NORWICH. 415 



comparable in importance to that which affords quinine, there ises. 

 yet are a few, the cultivation of which is being attempted on an 

 experimental scale. Of these, the most important seems to be 

 Ipecacuanha, plants of which are now growing at Calcutta and 

 Madras, as well as in the West Indian island of Trinidad ; but 

 in none of these localities does the plant prosper vigorously. 

 In fact, the experiment looks as little hopeful as the Cinchona 

 enterprise did when the first bark trees were sent to India by 

 Dr. Eoyle ; and until we get a supply of good seeds from Brazil, 

 I do not anticipate that it will be possible to make a fair trial of 

 propagating the ipecacuanha plant in India or elsewhere. 



The experiments made in cultivating the jalap plant (Exo- Cultivation of 

 gonium purga, Benth.) are much more hopeful, and I have the a ap ' 

 gratification of presenting to your notice the first specimen 

 of that drug produced in India. It was grown at Ootacamund 

 where live roots carried from England by my friend Mr. 

 Broughton were planted in January, 1867. These roots grew 

 with surprising luxuriance, each producing a fine cluster of 

 tubers ; some of them were dug up in December of the same 

 year, when the largest tuber was found to weigh over a pound 

 and a half. This jalap of India, you will observe, differs very 

 notably in appearance from that we get from Mexico, owing 

 chiefly to a different mode of drying ; in fact, to facilitate this 

 operation, the tubers have been sliced. It compares, however, 

 favourably with that of Mexico, as regards percentage of resin, 

 and from a few trials made in India, we may judge that its 

 medicinal powers are fully maintained. 



Let me now draw your attention to a fine specimen of calumba Calumba root, 

 root, the produce of plants cultivated in Mauritius. It is, as you, 

 will readily perceive, remarkable for its fresh and brilliant colour 

 and, were it in the market, it would, I think, command a far 

 better price than the somewhat dingy drug that has lately 

 reached us through the ordinary channels of commerce. 



Here are some pieces of calumba root in a living state 

 recently brought from Trinidad by my friend Mr. Prestoe, 

 superintendent of the botanical garden in that island. Eeinark 

 the brilliant yellow hue of the freshly-cut root. 



