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€ASE No. 318. Ipecacuanha. The root of PsycJwtria 



.^Q. Ippcacaanha, Stokes, a small shrubby plant found in most 



parts of Brazil and also cultivated in India and the Straits 



Settlements. The roots afford an important emetic and 



valuable specific for dysentery. 



During the year 1905, 454 bales of the drug, of an 

 average weight of about 100 lbs., were imported into this 

 country from Matto Grosso, Minas Geraes, Carthagena and 

 Johore, the bulk coming from Brazil. It may be noted 

 that Carthagena or New Granada Ipecacuanha is 

 believed to be the i)roduce of P. amiminata^ Benth. 

 Observe also STRIATED or BLACK IPECACUANHA (P. 

 emetica, L.), a native of Colombia. This drug occasionally 

 appears in the London Market and is one of the man> 

 substitutes for the true product. 



On a lower shelf observe mounted specimens of 

 Hydnophytum formlcarum^ Jack. 

 OASE The first compartment of this case contains chiefly 

 67. mounted specimens of species of Hydnophytum and 

 Myrniecodia, including M. Beccarii., Hook, f., from 

 Australia, and M. tuberosa^ Jack., from Malaya. These 

 plants are constantly inhabited by ants. 



Note a sample of UNDULATED or FALSE IPECACUANHA 

 (Richardsonia pilosa, H. B. & K.^, a very common plant 

 in Brazil. When fresh it is pure white, becoming of an 

 iron grey colour when dry. It is used for adulterating 

 true ipecacuanha. 



No. 319. Madder, the root of Ruhia tinctorum, L., 

 at one time largely grown for the sake of its valuable red 

 dye, in France, Southern Europe, and the Levant. From 

 it alizarine, carmine, &c., are made. Its cultivation has 

 almos!: entirely disappeared, owing to the more general 

 use of alizarine artificially made from coal-tar dyes. 

 Specimens of Alizarin, Rubianic acid, and Purpurin 

 obtained from Madder roots are exhibited. 



No 320. Indian Madder, or Munjeet. The roots 

 of Ruhta cordifoUa^ L., a climbing perennial, common 

 throughout the hilly districts of India, and extending into 

 Ceylon, Malacca, Japan, Java, tropical Africa, &c. ; it 

 yields an important red dye used in India. Observe 

 ispecimen of Munjistin from R. cordi folia. 



