COCOANUT 



71 



cocoanut. The berries also contain an enzyme lipase. (Mann, 

 Bull. Univ. Wis., No. 767, 1915). 



Literature. Kraemer, Practical Drug., 1910, 28, p. 97. 



SEMEN AREC,E. Areca Nut or Betel Nut. The seed of Areca 

 Catechu (Fam. Falmse). A beautiful tall palm very extensively 

 cultivated in southeastern Asia and the East Indies. The Areca nut 

 (Fig. 25) is very highly esteemed by the people of the East as a mas- 

 ticatory. The powdered nut is used to some extent as a vermifuge 

 both upon lower animals and man. The seeds are 20 to 25 mm. long, 

 conical, grayish-brown, with numerous spiral, reddish veins, heavy, 

 hard, somewhat aromatic, astringent and slightly acrid. They con- 

 tain about 0.1 per cent of an oily liquid alkaloid, arecoline, which 

 chemically and in its physiological action resembles pelletierine; 14 

 per cent of tannin, resembling catechutannic acid; gallic acid; a 

 red coloring principle; and 14 per cent of a fixed oil. They also con- 

 tain three other alkaloids: arecaine, arecaidine and guvacine, but 

 these do not seem to give the drug its properties. 



Literature. Zornig, Arzneidrogen, p. 576. 



COCOANUT. Cocanut. The Cocoanut palm (Cocus nucifera) 

 growing in the coast regions of all tropical countries, yields the cocoa- 

 nut of the market and is probably one of the most useful palms to the 

 natives, furnishing as it does, food, clothing, utensils of all kinds, 

 building materials, etc. 



The following classification of the products obtained from the 

 Cocoanut palm has been prepared by Toothaker of the Philadelphia 

 Museum and shows the manifold uses of this palm. 



^ I Cocoanut oil 



Oopra < . . . 



I tor soap, cooking, etc. 



(Oil Cake 

 I for cattle food 

 Milk (A nourishing drink) 

 Shell (For household articles) 



C Ropes 

 Husk Coir fiber | Carpets 



( Brushes, etc. 



COCOANUT _. , ( Wood ("Porcupine" wood) for cabinet work, 



PALM 1 \ for construction, for fire wood 



( For thatching, plaiting, mat making, basket 



i making, etc. 



i Young leaves (food) 



f Palm sugar or "Jaggery" 

 Juice J f Unfermented 



| T . J Fermented (Toddy) 

 [LlqUOr ] either Distilled (Ar- 

 [ rack) or Vinegar 



Fruit 



Kernel 



Food 



Leaves 



Flower spathe 



