chiefly mucilage, and (probably) pectin which separates if the liquid is 

 concentrated by evaporation. The mucilage may be precipitated by 

 neutral acetate of lead or by alcohol, but is not coloured by iodine. It 

 may be separated by a filter into a portion truly soluble (as proved by 

 the addition of alcohol or acetate of lead), and another, comprehending 

 the larger bulk, which is only swollen like tragacanth, but is far more 

 glutinous and completely transparent. 



Neither a per- nor a proto-salt of iron shows the infusion to contain 

 any appreciable quantity of tannin,* nor is the drug in any sense pos- 

 sessed of astringent properties. 



Uses — Bael is held in high repute in India as a remedy for 

 dysentery and diarrhoea; at the same time it is said to act as a laxative 

 where constipation exists. 



Adulteration — The fruit of Feronia Elejyhantum Correa, which has 

 a considerable external resemblance to that of ^gle Marmelos and is 

 called by Europeans Wood Ajyple, is sometimes supplied in India for 

 bael. It may be easily distinguished: it is one-celled with a large five- 

 lobed c&vitj (instead of 10 to 15 cells) filled with numerous seeds. 

 The tree has pinnate leaves with 2 or 3 pairs of leaflets. We have seen 

 Pomegranate Peel oflfered as Indian Baelr 



SIMARUBE^. 



LIGNUM QUASSIiE. 



Quassia, Quassia Wood, Bitter Wood; F. Bois de Quassia de la 

 Janiaique, Bois anier; Jamaica Qu<issiaholz. 



Botanical Origin — Picrcena excelsa Lindl. (Quassia excelsa Swartz, 

 SimxLvuha excelsa DC, Picrasma excelsa Planchon), a tree 50 to 60 feet 

 in height, somewhat resembling an ash and having inconspicuous greenish 

 flowers and black shining drupes the size of a pea. It is common on 

 the plains and lower mountains of Jamaica, and is also found in the 

 islands of Antigua and St. Vincent. It is called in the West Indies 

 Bitter Wood or Bitter Ash. 



History — Quassia wood was introduced into Europe about the 

 middle of the last century. It was derived from Qiuissia amai'a L., a 

 shrub or small tree with handsome crimson flowers, belonging to the 

 same order, native of Panama, Venezuela, Guiana, and Northern Brazil. 

 It was subsequently found that the Bitter Wood of Jamaica which 

 Swartz and other botanists referred to the same genus, possessed similar 

 properties, and as it was obtainable of much larger size, it has since the 

 end of the last century been generally preferred. The wood of 

 Q. amara, called Surinam Qtujssia, is however still used in France 

 and Germany .3 



* We are thus at variance with Collas ^ 40 ^ags in a drug sale, 8th May, 1873. 



of Pondichery, who attributes to the ripe ' The Pharmacopoea Germanica of 1872 



fruit 5 per cent, of tannin. — Hist. nat. etc. expressly forbids the use of the wood of 



du Bel mi Vilva in Revue Coloniale, xvi. Picrcena in place of Quassia, 

 (1856) 220-238. 



