OX THE SAMADERA WOOD. 317 



of their common name of St. John's Bread. The carat weight of the 

 jewellers is said to be originally derived from the seed of this pod. 



Baphia nitida, Lodd., a West African tree, furnishes both the dye-woods 

 known as barwood and camwood ; the bright red colour of the English 

 bandana handkerchiefs is produced from these woods. By the use of 

 sulphate of iron, the intensity of colour is very much increased. "We 

 receive the wood in square logs with the bark taken off. In the African 

 markets it appears in a ground state made up into balls. 



Alcexylon Agallochum, Lour., is said to " produce one of the two sorts of 

 Calambac, Eagle-wood, or Lign aloes, a fragrant substance, which Loureiro 

 states consists of a concretion of the oily particles into a resin in the centre 

 of the trunk ; it is brought on by some disease, and the tree dies of it." 

 •The perfume of this wood is well known, and is in high estimation among 

 the Orientals. 



Kew, April, 1862. 



ON THE SAMADERA WOOD (SAMADERA INDICA). 



BY W. C. ONDAATJE. 



Since my "Notes on the Febrifuge Plants of Ceylon" appeared in your 

 valuable periodical, I have been induced to try the efficacy of the Samadera, 

 simply as an anti-febrile remedy, and the result of my trial at this large 

 hospital has been satisfactory. 



The following " Directions for the use of the Samadera wood " have 

 been adopted at the Government Civil Hospital at Colombo, where the 

 average daily sick amounts to 180. A small portion of the rasped wood 

 was sent to you by the last mail.* 



Decoction of the wood to be used as a febrifuge : Take six ounces of the 

 rasped wood ; three pints of water ; boil over a slow fire, until reduced to 

 one pint, and strain. 



* We have had an analysis made of the sample sent us by Mr. Ondaatje, and 

 append the report of Dr. Phipson thereon. A concentrated decoction of the wood is 

 of an intense bitter taste, like quinine. There is but a limited demand for Quassia 

 wood for medicinal purposes in this country. Whether the Samadera wood could be 

 safely used by the bitter-beer brewers, we cannot say. — Editor. 



Eeport to P. L. Simmonds, Esq., upon a sample of Quassia wood from Ceylon : I 

 have carefully examined the sample of Quassia wood from Ceylon you have handed 

 to me, and, upon comparing it with that which is generally found in commerce, I find 

 that, both in physical and chemical characters, it is very superior to the latter. It 

 furnishes a larger proportion of the bitter principle, Quassine, and less ash than the 

 ordinary Quassia-chips of commerce. — L. Phipson, F.C.S. Lond., Member of the 

 Chemical Society of Paris, &c, &c. 



Feb. 24, 1862. 



