SEMEN AREC^ 671 



The powdered seeds which had been treated with ether were then 

 exhausted by cold spirit of wine (832), which afforded 14-77 per cent, 

 (reckoned on the original seeds) of a red amorphous tannic matter, 

 which after drying, proved to be but little soluble in water, whether cold 

 or boiling. Submitting to destructive distillation, it afforded P^/roca^ec/mi. 

 Its aqueous solution is not altei'ed by feiTous sulphate, unless an alkali 

 is added, when it assumes a violet hue, with separation of a copious 

 dark purplish precipitate. On addition of a ferric salt in minute quan- 

 tity to the a(j[ueous solution of the tannic matter, a fine green tint is 

 produced, quickly turning brown by a further addition of the test, and 

 violet by an alkali. An abundant dark precipitate is also formed. 



The seeds having been exhausted by both ether and spirit of wine, 

 were treated with water, which removed from them chiefly mucilage 

 precipitable by alcohol. The alcohol thus used afforded on filtration 

 traces of an acid, the examination of which was not pursued. After 

 exhaustion with ether, spirit of wine and water, a dark brown solution 

 is got by digesting the residue in ammonia : from this solution, an acid 

 throws down an abundant brown precipitate, not soluble even in boiling 

 alcohol. We have not been able to obtain crystals from an aqueous 

 decoction of the seeds, nor by exhausting them directly with boiling 

 spirit of wine. We have come therefore to the conclusion that Catechin 

 (p. 243) is not a constituent of areca nuts, and that any extract, if ever 

 made from them, must be essentially different to the Catechu of Acacia 

 or of Nauclea, and rather to be considered a kind of tannic matter of 

 the nature of Ratanhia-red or Cincho7ia-recl. 



By incinerating the powdered seeds, 226 per cent, were obtained of 

 a brown ash, which, besides peroxide of iron, contained phosphate of 

 magnesium. 



Commerce — Areca nuts are sold in India both in the husk (peri- 

 carp) and without it, and the two sorts are enumerated in the Customs 

 Returns under distinct heads. Their widespread consumption in the 

 East gives rise to an enormous trade, of which some notion may be 

 formed by a consideration of the few statistics bearing upon it which 

 are accessible. 



Thus, Ceylon exported of areca nuts in the year 1871, 66,543 cwt., 

 value £62,593; in 1872, 71,715 cwt., — the latter quantity entirely to 

 India; in 1875 of the total export of 94,567 cwt. 86,446 were shipped 

 to India.^ 



The Madras Presidency largely trades in the same commodity. In 

 the year 1872-1873 there were shipped thence to Bombay 43,958 cwt, 

 besides about two millions of the entire fruit.^ An extensive traflSc in 

 areca nuts is carried on at Singapore and especially in Sumatra. 



Uses — Powdered areca nut may be given for the expulsion of tape- 

 worm in the dose of 4 to 6 drachms, taken in milk. The remedy 

 should be administered to the patient after a fast of about twelve hours; 

 some recommend the previous exhibition of a purgative. It is said to 

 be efficacious against lunibriciis as well as tcenia. 



The charcoal afforded by burning areca nuts in a close vessel is sold 

 as a tooth powder; but except greater density, it possesses no advantage 

 over the charcoal from ordinary wood. 



1 Ceylon Blue Books. 2 Prom the returns quoted at p. 571, note 5. 



