270 ON THE CASCARILLA BARK, ETC. 



quarters of this manufacture, which is an important export, especially to 

 England. It is a matter of regret that the samples sent are so exceedingly 

 small. 



In a small collection of the wood of exotic trees acclimatized in the 

 vicinity of Cagliari is one remarkable specimen of the wood of Medicago 

 ariorea, resembling a block of Cocus wood, five inches in diameter. 

 Walnut wood veneers, cut by circular saw, very thin and of fine quality, 

 are sent by Gaspare Pasquini, of Florence. 



The more artistic productions of wood which come under this section 

 were not numerous, but were of very superior quality. The carvings of 

 P. Giusti, of Sienna, and of Luigi Frullini, of Florence, are exceedingly 

 beautiful and in the best style of art. Beautiful marquetry and Sorrento- 

 work is exhibited by Michele Grandville, of Sorrento, and exquisite in- 

 laying with woods, &c, by Frederico Lancetti, of Perugia. 



The inlaid work (marquetry) made of Italian woods by Luigi Gar- 

 giulo, of Sorrento, and the carved cornices, brackets, and picture and 

 looking-glass frames, shown by Emilio Franceschi, of Florence, are very 

 fine specimens of art in wood work. 



ON THE CASCARILLA, AND OTHER SPECIES OF CROTON, 

 OF THE BAHAMA AND WEST INDIA ISLANDS. 



BY WILLIAM F. DANXELL, M.D., F.L.S. 



Although much of the confusion which formerly prevailed, respect- 

 ing the sources of the Cascarilla barks of the West Indies, have been 

 dissipated by the researches of Woodville, Lindley, and other pharma- 

 ceutical authorities, nevertheless, considerable doubt existed with refer- 

 ence to the species of Croton, that originally supplied the markets of 

 Europe, and to which the term Cascarilla was first applicable. That 

 the plant yielding the article of commerce, during the last century was 

 also unknown, is evident from the discrepancy of opinion, that pervades 

 the statements of comparatively recent writers. This obscurity, never 

 entirely dispelled, has continued up to the present date. Some apparent 

 inconsistencies in their descriptive account, requiring elucidation, I was 

 induced during a tour of service in the Bahama islands in 1857-8, to 

 make inquiries into the general history of the medicinal Crotons indi- 

 genous to the group ; the results of which were placed in the hands of 

 my friend Mr. Bennett, and published by him in the Journal of the 

 proceedings of the Linnean Society. From his careful revision 

 of their botanical characters, intricate synonyms, and other specific 

 details, I have been enabled to rectify many important inaccuracies, 

 perpetuated in the works of Materia Medica. 



