WINTER'S 237 



(6) The oil-cells and medullary rays, 

 (c) The characteristic odour and taste. 



Constituents. Canella bark contains about 1 per cent, of volatile 

 oil which has a pungent aromatic taste and contains eugenol, cineol, 

 and terpenes. The bitter principle has not yet been isolated, and 

 it is doubtful whether the pungency is due entirely to the volatile 

 oil. The bark contains no tannin, a negative character by which it 

 may be distinguished from that of Cinnamodendron corticosum, Miers. 



Uses. Canella has aromatic stimulant and tonic properties. 



WINTER'S L BARK 



(True Winter's Bark, Cortex Winteranus) 



Source, &c. True Winter's bark is derived from Drimys Winteri, 

 Forster (N.O. Magnoliacece), a tree distributed throughout the whole 

 of South America. It was first brought to Europe in 1579 by Captain 

 Winter from the Straits of Magellan. It is now imported from 

 Colombia. 



Description. True Winter's bark occurs in channelled pieces or 

 strongly inrolled quills from 3 to 8 mm. in thickness, the quills being 

 often small in diameter in comparison with their great thickness. 

 Both surfaces are usually of a rusty-brown colour, the outer being 

 occasionally whitish or silvery ; the thinner pieces frequently bear 

 lichens. The inner surface is well characterised by deep and close 

 striations, the projecting ridges being the inner margins of the bast 

 rays, which are strongly lignified, and therefore do not contract on 

 drying. A transverse section shows radiating lines of white bast, 

 the intervening parenchyma as well as that of the cortex being dark 

 brown. The bark has a terebinthinate odour and an extremely 

 pungent taste, which, however, disappears on keeping. 



Constituents. Winter's bark contains 0'6 per cent, of a volatile 

 oil consisting chiefly of the terpene, winterene. It also contains 

 resin, tannin, and mucilage. A cold aqueous infusion is coloured 

 dark violet by solution of potassium hydroxide, a reaction that is 

 sometimes useful in identifying the bark. 



Uses. Winter's bark has stimulant, tonic, and antiscorbutic 

 properties. It is much used in Brazil as an astringent and stimulant. 



Substitutes. Cinnamodendron Bark, C. corticosum, Miers (N.O. 

 Canellacece) ; for many years substituted for true Winter's bark ; 

 dingy brown, rarely pale yellow, the freshly cut surface has a distinct 

 odour of coriander. 



Malambo Bark, Croton Malambo, Karsten (N.O. Euphorbiacece) ; 



