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The recent high prices of buchu leaves have naturally excited much 

 interest in Cape Colony, and have induced the Cape Agricultural De- 

 partment to pay special attention to this drug. N. S. Pillans, of the Agri- 

 cultural Research Department of Cape Colony, has published an article on 

 buchu leaves under the title "A Preliminary Note an Cape Buchus", of 

 which an abstract appears in The Chemist and Druggist 1 ), and which 

 contains many interesting details. 



Pillans, in his article, gives statistical data on the export of buchu 

 leaves, and incidentally puts the question whether the customary season 

 for collecting the leaves (January, February and March) is really the most 

 suitable. He also gives hints as to the best means of preparing the 

 leaves for shipment. One of the objects of the further investigations by 

 the Agricultural Department will be to ascertain whether the preference 

 given to the three Barosma species known as betulina, crenulata, and ser- 

 ratifolia over the others is to be sought in the greater richness in oil of 

 these leaves or in the better quality of the oil. In order to get over the 

 difficulty of curing and preserving buchu leaves, Pillans proposes to 

 distil them on the spot and to export the oil instead. As to this, The 

 Chemist and Druggist pertinently observes that buchu leaves derive their 

 therapeutical value not only from their essential oil, but also from their 

 mucilage content, and that the use of buchu leaf oil in the perfumery 

 industry is insignificant, for which reason the distillation of the leaves 

 on the spot would not have the desired result. 



It is also interesting to note Pillans' statements with regard to the 

 original use of buchu leaves by the natives. Previous to the settlement 

 of Europeans in South Africa, buchu was used in a powdered form by 

 several of the Hottentot tribes as an ingredient in a greasy paste, with 

 which they besmeared themselves as a protection against the attacks of 

 insects. This method was also regarded as an efficacious protection 

 against the attacks of carnivorous animals. It is not known whether the 

 leaves were used medicinally at that time, probably the first use of this 

 kind was made of the leaves by the colonists in the preparation of an 

 alcoholic extract known as "buchu brandy", which in its strongest form 

 was used as an embrocation, and for a long time was held in high esti- 

 mation as a remedy. 



In another article Pillans 2 ) states that in order to preserve the buchu 

 plants and encourage their growth, one particular district is closed against 

 the leaf-gatherers every year, so that the plants may have a chance of 

 recovering and seeding. 



The same Journal 3 ) describes a species of buchu leaves which had 

 not been previously observed. They resemble those of Barosma crenulata, 



!) Chemist and Druggist 77 (1910), 622. 



2 ) Chemist and Druggist 78 (1911), 300. 



3 ) Chemist and Druggist 77 (1910), 515. 



