Drugs. 



50 



have but little to do with the demand. * * * It is true that the reduction in 

 price from 10s to lOd. has increased the consumption to ten times what it was 

 40 years ago, but now it is difficult to imagine that anyone now goes without 

 quinine on account of its price. 



The synthesis of quinine has always been hitherto an unattainable aim. It 

 has been frequently attempted, and I believe that to one such attempt we owe 

 the invention of aniline dyes ; even the change from one alkaloid to another 

 has only been effected in one case. It used to have a pecuniary as well as 

 scientific attraction, but, from the commercial standpoint, can we hope to beat 

 nature with her synthesis of 10 per cent, ledgeriana ? 



CULTIVATION OF DRUGS IN GERMAN EAST AFRICA. 



A recent issue of the "Berichte liber Land und Forstwirtschaft in 

 Deutsch Ost Africa" contains an interesting account of the work done during the 

 year 1905 at the Biological-Agricultural Institute founded some years ago at 

 Amani in this German colony. Perhaps the most interesting development of 

 the Institute during the year was the inauguration of the new chemical 

 laboratory in which the various natural products of the Colony are to be systematic- 

 ally investigated. Among the plants now being grown in the experimental 

 plantations are Cola vera, Areca Catechu, Ilex par aguayensis, Cinchona robusta; 

 C. succirubra and C. Ledgeriana, Erythroxylon Coca, Strophanthus gratus, and 

 the Javanese febrifuges Ficus ribes and Jasminum glabriusculum, all of which 

 are stated to be doing well. The cinchonas have indeed been planted in con- 

 siderable quantities, and an attempt is to be made at commercial production, 

 though the climate of the country is said to be rather unsuitable for successful bark- 

 growing. Black pepper, camphor, sandalwood, and Andropogon Schoenanthus and 

 A. squarrosus are also being tried. 



The first experiments with sandalwood have been failures, but further 

 attempts to grow it are being made. Balsams are also being grown, but the 

 dryness of the climate does not suit either the tolu or Peruvian balsam plants, 

 though one of the storax-yielding trees— Liquidambar styraciflua—is said to be 

 doing well. Fifty-eight different species ot Eucalyptus have been planted, and 

 1,000 plants have been raised so far. 



Attention is also being directed to the cultivation of casuarinas. Both 

 these classes of plants are of great importance as wind-breakers and as sources 

 of cheap fuel. The energies of the Institute chemist (Dr. Schellmann) seem to have 

 been devoted principally to the study of manures for coffee and cotton, though 

 he has also investigated, among other subjects, methods of preparing alcohol from 

 sweet potatoes, the preparation of cardamoms for the market, and the tanning 

 values of the barks of various species of Acacia. 



A still for the preparation of essential oils has recently been fitted up, and 

 about a kilo, of oil has been distilled from Andropogon citratus and samples 

 distributed to merchants in Germany for valuation. This, however, proved not to be 

 of very good quality. Essential oils from Piper Volkensii and wild cardamoms 

 (Amomum mala) have also been prepared. 



The most interesting mineral examined during the year was a uranium 

 ore containing no less than 89 per cent, of uranous-uranic oxide, which proved to 

 be highly radio-active. As its name implies, the Institute devotes special 

 attention to applied entomology, and thirty pages of the Report are devoted 

 to the results of the examination of the various insect-pests of economic plants 

 and the disease-carrying insects, such as the various species of Glossinia, which 

 have been dealt with during the year. At the close of the Report an interesting 

 account is given of the bee and silkworm culture experiments, which appear to be 

 making satisfactory progress.— Chemist and Druggist. 



