August 3, 1372.3 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
83 
inch objective will render the detection of the pre¬ 
sence of starch very easy, and in some cases also of 
chalk and sand. The addition of a drop of hydro¬ 
chloric acid at the edge of the cover, a portion of 
the water having been abstracted on the opposite 
side of the cover by means of blotting-paper, will 
render the presence of chalk visible by the gas 
bubbles which will gradually appear and make their 
way to the edge of the cover. The polariscope will 
demonstrate the presence of sand and facilitate the 
detection of wood fibres. Starch and chalk appear to 
be the prevalent adulterants at the present time. A 
sample forwarded to me lately, labelled “ Pulv. Scam- 
mon. Yirg. (Pure),” was remarkable on account of the 
variety of starches it contained, many being unknown 
to me, and of the organic remains* in the chalk with 
which it was adulterated. This sample was also 
adulterated with other resins. When the scammony 
is adulterated abroad by admixture with starch, etc., 
whilst the resin is soft, it is needful to heat it with 
ether and spirit before examining it. 
[To be continued.) 
REPORT ON CINCHONA BARK GROWN 
IN JAMAICA. 
By the kindness of J. E. Howard, Esq., we are 
enabled to print a report made by him upon some 
samples of cinchona bark forwarded to him by Mr. 
Sargeaunt, the Crown Agent for the Colonies. The 
samples included five species grown in the Botanical 
Gardens, Jamaica, and one from a locality named 
Cold Spring. Those from the plantation had been 
planted out three and a half years, the specimens from 
Cold Spring was supposed to be about eight years 
old. 
Report by J. E. Howard, Esq., F.L.S., etc., to the 
Crown Agents for the Colonies on the above samples. 
Sir,—Referring to your letter of the 27tli June, j- I 
have to inform you that the samples of cinchona 
bark from Jamaica have been received and fully in¬ 
vestigated ; and I am glad to be able to report that 
the result is highly satisfactory as regards the pro¬ 
spects of cinchona cultivation in that island. 
The total contents in alkaloid may be described as 
quite favourable for the time of growth, with speciali¬ 
ties which seem to indicate that some species are 
more exactly suited than others. The C. calisaya 
is in tliis case decidedly the most promising, and it 
has already attained a percentage of quinine which 
would fit it for the purposes of the manufacturer. 
* Forameniferce similar to those found in the Gravesend 
chalk. 
f “ The samples of cinchona bark have been forwarded, 
and I shall be glad to receive the report which Mr. J. E. 
Howard has kindly promised to give on their botanical qua¬ 
lities and commercial values. I enclose an extract from a 
letter from the Superintendent of the Botanical Gardens, 
Jamaica, which may be of assistance to Mr. Howard in his 
examination of these specimens. 
“Extract referred to under date, April 22nd, 1872:— C I 
send herewith all the species (five) grown here, and also a 
specimen from Cold Spring. They are all labelled. Those 
from the plantation are now three years and a half old, that 
is, from the time they were planted out, when they were 
four to six inches high. The specimen from Cold Spring is, 
as nearly as I can make out, about eight years old.’ ” 
This may be owing to a difference in the sort culti¬ 
vated; if otherwise, it marks a more favourable 
climate for this species than the East Indies pre¬ 
sent. 
The reverse may be remarked of the C. officinalis , 
which has probably not been planted at a sufficient 
altitude above the sea. 
The C. succirubra resembles that grown in India, 
with the exception of the specimen from “ Cold¬ 
spring.” This latter is thin, and with the appearance 
of having grown slowly, but is of very good quality, 
containing quinine, cinchonine, and cinchonidine 
in almost equal proportions, together with great 
abundance of the peculiar cincho-tannic acid. It 
would be exactly suited to pharmaceutical purposes. 
The C. micrantha and the C. pahudiana are of 
equal value. The C. micrantha contains more 
quinine and less cinchonine than usual. The G. 
pahudiana contains about as much quinine, more 
cinchonidine, and the same amount of cinchonine as 
the last. 
They are both inferior to those previously named. 
The three best specimens might be worth from 1a 1 . 0 d . 
to 1a. 10(7. per lb., for manufacturing purposes, or 
might command even a higher price for druggists’ 
use. The others would also sell at prices higher or 
lower, according to the fancy of the purchasers. 
I return samples for quantitative analysis, and re¬ 
main yours, etc., 
(Signed) John Eliot Howard. 
THE TRADE IN ALOES. 
BY P. L. SIMMONDS. 
Our supplies of this important drug do not seem 
to increase, and an annual import of about 700,000 lb. 
may now be considered as the average supply from 
all quarters. Although much useful information 
has been given from time to time on this subject 
in medical and botanical works, a few recent notes 
may be found useful to many. 
The simply inspissated juice of the leaves 
of the various species of the genus Aloe con¬ 
stitutes this well-known drug. It is best obtained 
by using neither heat nor pressure for extracting the 
sap. By re-dissolving the aqueous part in cold 
water and reducing the liquid by boiling to dryness, 
the extract of aloes is prepared. The quality of the 
product is apparently more dependent on soil, 
climate and preparation than on any specific dif¬ 
ference in the plant itself. A great deal depends 
on the mode of preparation. 
The usual way of extracting the substance is by 
making a transverse incision in the leaves, or cut¬ 
ting them off at the base; then scraping off the juice 
as it flows if done in the former way, or allowing 
it to run into a vessel placed for the purpose if in 
the latter. Pressure is made occasionally to assist 
the flow, but as Dr. O’ Shaughnessy observes, “by 
this means large quantities of the mucilage are 
forced out and mix with the proper bitter juice 
which is proportionately deteriorated;” for it must 
be recollected that the aloe contains a great deal 
of mucilaginous matter, abundant towards the centre 
of the thick fleshy leaves. The juice, after being 
received into a vessel, is exposed to the sun or other 
heat by which means it becomes inspissated. 
All species of this genus are highly valuable in 
