BY J. H, MAIDEN. 363 



necessary preliminary statement, Hesse gives a full account of the 

 preparation and properties of the alkaloids found by him. They 

 are : — 



1. Alstonine (synonymous with Chlorogenine, and proVjably 

 identical with Palm's " alstonin "). It is a brown amorphous 

 mass, which can be rubbed to a brownish-yellow powder. 



2. Porphyrine, a white powder, found in very small quantity. 



3. Potyhyrosine, the examination of which is not yet complete. 



4. Alstonidine, consisting of colourless, concentrically grouped 

 needles. 



Hesse believes that this list by no means completely enumerates 

 the alkaloids obtainable from this interesting bark. 

 This tree is also found in Queensland. 



10. Atherosperjia moschata, LabilL, N.O. Monimiacese, 

 B.Fl., v., 284. 



" Victorian Sassafras." 



The bark contains an agreeable bitter, of much repute as a 

 tonic amongst sawyers. It is called " Native Sassafras " from the 

 otlour of its bark, due to an essential oil closely resembling true 

 Sassafras in odour. Mr. Bosisto likens the smell of the inner 

 bark to new ale, and says that a decoction from this part of the 

 tree is a good substitute for yeast in raising bread. 



It is diaphoretic and diuretic in asthma and other pulmonary 

 affections, but it is known more especially for its sedative action 

 on the heart, and it has been successfully used in some forms of 

 heart-disease. 



It is prepared of the strength of four ounces of the bark to 

 twenty ounces of rectitied spirit, and is given in doses of thirty 

 to sixty drops, usually on a lump of sugar. The volatile oil of 

 the bark alone is said to have a lowering action on the heart. 



The bark has been examined by N. Zeyer, who has found in it 

 volatile oil, fixed oil, wax, albumin, gum, sugar, starch, butyric 

 acid, oxalic acid, an aromatic resin, iron-greening tannic acid, and 



