SEMEN GYNOCAKDI^. 75 



Chemical Composition — The most interesting body in canella is 

 the volatile oil, examined in 18-13 under Wohler's direction by Meyer 

 and Von Reiehe, who obtained it in the proportion of 094 from 100 

 parts of bark. They found it to consist of four different oils, the first 

 being identical with the Eugenol or Eugenic Acid of oil of cloves ; the 

 second is closely allied to the chief constituent of cajuput oil. The other 

 oils require further examination.^ 



The bark, of which we distilled 20 ft)., afforded OT-t per cent, of oil. 

 This when distilled with caustic potash in excess was found to be 

 composed of 2 parts of the acid portion and 1 part of the neutral 

 hydrocarbon ; the latter has an odour suggesting a mixture of pepper- 

 mint and cajaput. 



Meyer and Von Reiehe evaporated the aqueous decoction of canella, 

 and removed from the bitter extract by alcohol 8 per cent, of mannite, 

 which they ascertained to be the so-called Canellin described in 1822 

 by Petroz and Robinet. 



The bark yielded the Geiman chemists 6 per cent, of ash, chiefly 

 carbonate of calcium. The bitter principle has not yet been isolated. 

 An aqueous infusion is not blackened by a persalt of iron. 



Commerce — Canella alba is collected in the Bahama Islands and 

 shipped to Europe from Nassau in New Providence, the chief seat of 

 trade in the group. In 1876 the export of the bark amounted to 

 125 cwt. 



Uses — The bark is an aromatic stimulant, now but seldom em- 

 ployed. It is used by the West Indian negroes as a condiment. 



BIXINE^. 



SEMEN GYNOCARDIiE. 



GhaulTnugra Seed. 



Botanical Origin — Gynocardia odorata R. Br. {Chaulmoogra 

 Roxb., Hydnocarpus Lindl.), a large tree^ with a globular fruit of the 

 size of a shaddock, containing numerous seeds immersed in pulp. It 

 grows in the forests of the Malayan peninsula and Eastern India as far 

 north as Assam, extending thence along the base of the Himalaya 

 westward to Sikkim. 



History — The inhabitants of the south-eastern countries of Asia 

 have long been acquainted with the seeds of certain trees of the tribe 

 Pangieoe (ord. BixinecB). as a remedy for maladies of the skin. In 

 China a seed called Ta-fung-tsze is imported from Siam^ where it is 



^Gmelin, CJiemistry, xiv. (1860) 210. 1871. Sir Joseph Hooker (Report on (he 



2 Fig. in Bentley and Trimen, Medic. Royal Gardens at Kew, 1877, p. 33) has 

 Plants, part. 26 (1877). Also in Christy, been informed by Mr. Pierre, the director 

 New Commercial Plants, No. 2 (1878). of the Botanic Garden at Saigon, Cochin- 



3 The Commercial Report from H.M. china, that the seeds have proved to derive 

 Consul-General in Siam for the year 1871, from a Hydnocarpus (Gynocardia). — See 

 presented to Parliament, Aug. 1872, states also our article Semen Ignatii and Science 

 that 48 peculs (64001b.) of Lukrabow seeds Papers, p. 236. 



were exported from Bangkok to China in 



