CORTEX CINNAMOMI. 525 



bark. It is very deficient in aromatic qualities, and quite unfit for use 

 in pharmacy. 



In most other countries into wliich Cinnamomum zeylanicura has 

 been transplanted, it has been found that, partly from its tendency to 

 pass into new varieties and partl}'^ perhaps from want of careful cultiva- 

 tion and the absence of the skilled cinnamon-peeler, it yields a bark 

 appreciably different from that of Ceylon. Of other cinnamon-producing 

 districts, those of Southern India may be mentioned as affording the 

 Malcihar or TinneveUy, and the TeUicherrf/ Cinnaraon of commerce, the 

 latter being almost as good as the cinnamon of Ceylon.' The cultiva- 

 tion in Java commenced in 1825. The plant, according to Miquel, is a 

 variety of C. zeylanicum, distinguished by its very large leaves which are 

 frequently 8 inches long by 5 inches broad. The island exported in 

 1870, 1109 peculs (147,806 lb.); in 1871 only 446 peculs (59,466 lb.).2 



Cinnamon is also grown in the French colony of Guyana and in 

 Brazil, but on an insignificant scale. The samples of the bark from 

 those countries which we have examined are quite unlike the cinnamon 

 of Ceylon. That of Brazil in particular has evidently been taken from 

 stems several years old. 



The importations of cinnamon into the United Kingdom from Ceylon 

 are shown by the following figures : — 



1867 1869 1870 1871 1872 1876 



859,0341b. 2,611,4731b. 2,148,4051b. 1,430,518 lb. 1,015,4611b. 1,339,0601b. 



During 1872, 56,000 lb. of cinnamon were imported from other 

 countries. 



Description — Ceylon cinnamon of the finest description is imported 

 in the form of sticks, about 40 inches in length and f of an inch in 

 thickness, formed of tubular pieces of bark about a foot long, dexter- 

 ously arranged one within the other, so as to form an even rod of con- 

 siderable firmness and solidity, The quills of bark are not rolled up as 

 simple tubes, but each side curls inwards so as to form a channel with 

 in-curving sides, a circumstance that gives to the entire stick a somewhat 

 flattened cylindrical form. The bark composing the stick is extremely 

 thin, measuring often no more than tsuo of an inch in thickness. It has a 

 light brown, dull surface, faintly marked with shining wav}' lines, and 

 bearing here and there scars or holes at the points of insertion of leaves 

 or twigs. The inner surface of the bark is of a darker hue. The bark 

 is brittle and splintery, with a fragrant odour, peculiar to itself and the 

 allied barks of the same genus. Its taste is saccharine, pungent, and 

 aromatic. 



The bales of cinnamon which arrive in London are always re-packed 

 in the dock warehouses, in doing which a certain amount of breakage 

 occurs. The spice so injured is kept separate and sold as Small Cin- 

 namon, and is very generally used for pharmaceutical purposes. It is 

 often of excellent quality. 



Microscopic Structure — By the peeling above described, Ceylon 

 cinnamon is deprived of the suberous coat and the greater part of the 

 middle cortical layer, so that it almost consists of the mere liber (endo- 



^Someof it however ia very thick, though ^ Consular Reports, Aag. 1873. 952. 



neatly quilled. 



