28 
THE TROPIOIM- AtJfWCMLTURlST. 
(July i, 1890. 
the many well-known instances in which botanical 
similarity is dissociated from chemical and structural 
likeness. It is these curious exceptions that render it 
so difiBoult to lay down rules concerning the properties 
of any one natural order or genus of plants. 
Ihe Bark of Cinnamoiaum ohtusifolium some years, 
since was met with in the London Market, and there 
exists in the Museum of the Society a specimen 
obtained at the time which had been moistened by 
steam and bleached with the vapour of sulphurous 
acid, and was then offered for sale as cinnamon. 
The coriander taste of this bark is very marked. 
Nowin ‘ Pharmaoographia ’ (p. 630) the authors allude 
to a veriety of cassia “vera,” occasionally found in 
the London market, which has a flavour more or less 
of cinnamon, often with some unpleasant addition 
suggestive of insects of the genus Cimex. This seems 
indicative of similar chemical changes taking place 
in this bark to those occurring in the coriander plant, 
the leaves and unripe fruits of which possess a most 
offensive odour of a cimex character and quite 
different from the agreeable fragrance developed in 
the ripe fruit. 
2. I wish to direct the attention of members of 
our Society and of botanists living in the East to 
the elucidation of the botanical sources of the several 
barks so frequently met with in the London market 
under the names of Cassia vera and wild cassia, and 
which probably come to this country from Batavia, 
Singapore, Calcutta and Manilla. These barks as a 
rule contain more mucilage than cassia, the cold 
infusion made from them giving a thick glairy liquid 
affording dense ropy precipitates with acetate of lead, 
but not with alcohol (‘ Pharmaoographia,’ 2ud ed,, 
pp. 627, 528, 530). 
OIL OF LAVENDER. 
With Observations on the Cultivation of the Plant 
and the distillation of the Oil, by Mr J. C. Cawer. 
In the year 1885 I directed attention to the tentative 
cultivation of lavender and other medicinal plants at 
Brighton by Mr. J. C. Sawer. He has now presented 
spemmena of the oils distilled from laveudw and 
rosemary, and thinking that he might possibly be 
able to add something to the already recorded facts 
concerning lavender, I asked him for any additional 
information* that he might be able to afford. 
In reply Mr. Sawer says — 
“ A mild damp winter like the present one does 
more harm to lavender plants than a hard seasonable 
frost, as the plants are apt to make greenshoots pre- 
maturely, and late frosts nip off these tender portions, 
each of which would otherwise have produced a flower 
spike. 
“ It is necessary to grow the lavender suflaciently far 
part to allow of ready passage between the rows, as 
he nlants soon spread their btauohes, and it is other, 
aise very difficult, without injuring the plants, to 
carry the crop of flowers, if required for distillation. 
The collection has frequently to be done rapidly when 
the flower is arrived at a certain stage of maturity, 
and dry weather must be selected for the work. 
When the plant once begins to flower the blossoms 
are shed rapidly, and in damp weather the spikes 
carry much water and loose fragrance. 
“Some florists in Sussex cultivate a variety of 
lavender for ‘ bunching ’ {i.e., selling in the streets), 
and they set the plants close together, and the rows 
also close together. The plants are not so liable to 
break or split from the stem, in this case, hut it is 
almost impossible to manure the plants or to collect 
their blossoms without injury. 
“The flowers deprived of as much stalk as possible 
should bo distilled, without pi'evious maceration, the 
same day as cut, and not left in heaps, as the flowers 
rapidly ferment and the character of the oil is quite 
changed. The still and copper basket employed for 
rosemary can bo used, but of course the condenser and 
receiver should be different. The receiver should be 
deep, as the particles of oil passing into it are much 
^ » See Fharm. Journ., [3J xvi., p. 125. 
samller than rosemary. If a shallow receiver they 
might be carried down into the water pipe. The 
use of the perforated basket is twofold : 1st. It en- 
ables the operator to pull out the charge clean, all at 
once, without ‘ drawing ’ the fire, so that the still is 
ready for a fresh charge. 2nd. It is most important to 
prevent the flower from scorching by contact with any 
part of the still. While the basket is being refilled the 
dirty water is syphoned out and fresh water let in at 
the same time by a pipe smaller than the syphon, but 
admitting enough to prevent the copper burning. 
“The complement of water is run through the lid 
of the basket when that has been replaced. The 
supply of cold water to the condenser must be plenti. 
ful, so as to keep the lower halt of it always cold. 
Nearly all the oil will have passed over in half an hour 
from the time the mass thoroughly commenced to 
boil ; the rest is a heavier oil. 'The water passing 
over with the oil should not be returned to the still; 
the very small quantity of oil saved by doing so would 
not compensate for the herbaceous flavour communi- 
cated to the next running. 
“ The sample herewith (made as described) is clear, 
limpid, and pale in colour. It may probably be im- 
proved by drying out of it any particles of water held in 
solution. 
It is said that some consumers add 10 per cent, 
of S. V. R. to oil which they may have to keep in store, 
but I find if it be added to new oil, in which may remain 
any traces of water, a peculiar etherification sets in, 
the odour of which is very unpleasant. 
“ Mr. Cripps, of Birmingham, has kindly under- 
taken to examine samples of oil with a view of obtain- 
ing analytical data for comparisou with other samples 
of the same oils ; as, for instance, the iodine and 
bromine absorption equivalent, effect of age, etc. 
“ Of course tests for adulteration are known, also 
methods of taking the specific gravity, boiling point, 
etc.’’ 
INDIAN DRUGS. 
The following specimens have been presented by 
Dr. W. Dymock, of Bombay, and the information 
concerning them is taken partly from Dr. Dymoek’s 
letter and partly from his work oj the ‘ Materia 
Medica of Western India.’ 
Clerodendron infortunatum and C. inerme. — In the 
leaves of these plants Mr. D. H.j-.per has detected 
a bitter principle, and an acid which he identifies 
with chiratin and ophelic acid. This discovery is tlie 
more remarkatle, since chira’a belongs to the Gen- 
tianaceie, and clerodendron to the Verbenacete, thes- 
na’ural orders being very distinct. The leaves of the 
Clerodendron infortunatum are mentioned in the Phare 
maoopceia of India as an efficient tonic and anti- 
periodic, and .are said to be used as a vermifuge. 
The leaves are cordate-ovate, 8 to 10 inches long and 
7 to 8 inches broad at the base, hairy and dentate 
at the margin. 
Those of C. inerme are much smaller, being only 1 
to 2 inches long, oval, smooth and dotted on both 
sides with dark green dots. The leaves of this species 
are used as a febrifuge in intermittent fevers. 
Alanyium Lamarhii. — The root of this tree (which 
belongs to the natural order Ooruacese) is used in 
leprosy, syphilis, and skin disease. It possesses emetic, 
diaphoretic and antipyretic properties, and is, accord- 
ing to Mr. Moodeen Sheriff, a gcod substitute for 
Ipecacuanha in all diseases except dysentery. 
Cascaria esculenta. — The root of this plant is stated 
by Dr. Dymock to be of great repute in Goa in cases 
of hepatic dist ase and hcemorrhoids. Attention has 
alreaoy been directed to the drug in this country in a 
paper by Dr. Mootooswamy read at the British Phar- 
maceutical Conference (PAmja. o7oar«., Nov. 1889, p. 377). 
Chloroxylon S wietenia. — The bark possesses astringent 
properties, but does not appear to be much used in 
Indian medicine. The tree yields the Satinwood of 
India. 
Kyllinyia monocephala. — This little Cyperaceous plant 
is given as an antidote to poison. It possesses 
aromatic properties. 
