OLEUM ANDROPOGONIS. 



725 



above, would answer to about 16 per cent, of albuminous matters. Their 

 soluble part seems to be deposited in the starch-cells, next to the gluten- 

 cells, which latter contain the insoluble portion. 



The ash, according to Lermer, contains 29 per cent, of silicic acid, 

 32'6 of phosphoric acid, 227 of potash, and only 37 of lime. In the 

 opinion of Salm-Horstmar, fluorine and lithia are indispensable con- 

 stituents of barley. 



The fixed oil of barley, as proved in 1863 by Hanamann, is a com- 

 pound of glycerin with either a mixture of palmitic and lauric acids, or 

 less probably with a peculiar fatty acid. Beckmann's Hordeinic Acid 

 obtained in 1855 by distilling barley with sulphuric acid, is probably 

 lauric acid. Lintner (1868) has shown barley to contain also a little 

 Gholesterin (p. 420). 



Lastly, Kiihnemann (1875) extracted from barley a crystallized 

 dextrogyrate sugar, and (1876) an amorphous Isevogyrate mucilaginous 

 substance Sinistrin (see p. 692) ; according to that chemist, dextrin is 

 altogether wanting in barley. 



Barley when malted loses 7 per cent. ; it then contains 10 to 12 per 

 cent, of sugar, produced at the expense of the starch ; before malting, 

 no sugar is to be found. 



Uses — Barley as a medicine is unimportant. A decoction is some- 

 times prescribed as a demulcent or as a dUuent of active remedies. An 

 aqueous extract of malt has been employed. 



OLEUM ANDROPOGONIS. 



Oleum Chraminis Indici ; Indian Grass OH. 



Botanical Origin — Among the numerous species of Andvopogcni^ 

 which have foliage abounding in essential oil, the following furnish the 

 fragrant Grass Oils of commerce : — 



1. Andropogon Xardus L.,' — a noble-looking plant, rising when in 

 flower to a height of 6 or more feet, extensively cultivated in Ceylon 

 and Singapore for the production of Citronella Oil. 



2. A. citratus D.C.,* Lemon Grass, — a large coarse glaucous grass, 

 known only in a cultivated state, and very rarely producing flowers. It 

 is grown in Ceylon and Singapore for the sake of its essential oil, which 

 is called Lenion Grass Oil, Oil of Verbena or Indian Melissa Oil; it is 

 also commonly met with in gardens throughout India and is not unfre- 

 quent in English hothouses. In Java it is called Sireh. 



3. A. Sdwenantkus L.,* a grass of Northern and Central India, having 



^ Major General Munro has at our request 

 investigated the botanical characters of the 

 fragrant species of Andropogon, and exa- 

 mined a numerous suite of specimens in our 

 possession. The synonyms in foot-notes 

 are given upon his authority. 



"^A. il/arf jni Thwaites, Enum. Plantarum 

 Zeylanke nee aliorum. — Fig. in Bentley and 

 Trimen's Med. Plants, part 28 (1878). 



' A. citralum A.F. De Candolle, Catalogua 

 Planlarum Horti Botanici Monspeliensis, 



1813; A. Schaenanihm Wallich, Plant. 

 Aslat. rariores, iii. (1832) tab. 280; Rox- 

 burgh, Flora Inclica, i. (1820) 278, quoad 

 observationes, sed non quoad diagnosis. 



* Ventenat, Jardin de Cels, 1803. tab. 

 89 ; A. Martini Roxb. Flor. Ind. i. (1820) 

 280 ; A. pachnodes Trinius, Species Gra- 

 minum, iii. (1836) tab. 327 ; A. Calamus 

 aromaticus Royle, Illustrations of Bot. of 

 Himalayan Mountains, 1839. tab. 97. 



