88 DIPTEROCARPEiE. 



The fat of the seeds of G. indica was extracted by ether and examined 

 chemically in 1857 by J. Bonis and d'Oliveira Pimentel.^ It was 

 obtained to the extent of 80 per cent., was found to fuse at 40° 0. 

 and to consist chiefly of stearin (tri stearin). The seeds yielded 1"72 per 

 cent, of nitrogen. Their residue after exhaustion by ether afforded to 

 alkaline solutions or alcohol a fine red colour. 



Uses — The results of the experiments above-noted show that kokum 

 butter is well suited for some pharmaceutical preparations. It might 

 also be advantageously employed in candle-making, as it yields stearic 

 acid more easily and in a purer state than tallow and most other fats. 

 But that it is possible to obtain it in quantities sufficiently large for 

 important industrial uses, appears to us very problematical. 



DIPTEROCAEPE^. 



BALSAMUM DIPTEROCARPI. 



Balsamun Gurjunce; Gurjun Balsarti, Wood Oil. 



Botanical Origin — This drug is yielded by several trees of the 

 genus Dipterocarpus, namely — 



D. turhinatus Gartn. f (D. Icevis Ham., D. indicus Bedd), a native 

 of Eastern Bengal, Chittagong and Pegu to Singapore, and French 

 Cochin China. 



B. incanus Roxb., a tree of Chittagong and Pegu. 



D. alatus Boxb., growing in Chittagong, Burma, Tenasserim, the 

 Andaman Islands, Siam, and French Cochin China. 



D. zeylanicus Thw. and D. hispidus Thw., indigenous to Ceylon. 



D. crispalatus abounding, together with D. turhinatus and 



D. alatus, in French Cochin China. 



D. trinei^is Bl., a native of Java and the Philippines, and D. gracilis 

 Bl., D. littoralis Bl., D. retusus Bl. (D. Spanoghei BL), trees of Java 

 supply a similar useful product which as yet appears to be of less 

 commercial importance.^ 



The Gurjun trees are said by Hooker ^ to be among the most 

 magnificent of the forests of Chittagong. They are conspicuous for 

 their gigantic size, and for the straightness and graceful form of their 

 tall unbranched trunk, and small symmetrical crown of broad glossy 

 leaves. Many individuals are upwaids of 200 feet high and 15 feet in 

 girth. 



History — Gurjun balsam was enumerated as one of the productions 

 of Ava by Francklin'' in 1811, and in 1813 it was briefly noticed by 

 Ainslie.* Its botanical origin was first made known by Roxburgh, who 

 also described the method by which it is extracted. 



^ Comptes Rendus, xliv. (1857) 1355. ^ Himalayan Journal, ed. 2, ii. (1855) 



2 That of D. trinerv'm is especially used 332. 



in Java. Filet, Plantkundig Woordenhoek * Tracts on the Dominions of Ava, Lond, 



voor Nederlandsck Indie, Leiden, 1876, 1811. 26. 



No. 6157- ' In the Catalogue des Prodtiits des 



