302 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
[October 19, 1872. 
cells, and unpitted vessels. The starch granules 
can only be seen when the colouring matter has 
been wholly, or partially removed, and they re¬ 
semble those of curcuma arrowroot rather closely. 
Hassall says (‘ Adulterations Detected ’) that “ on 
the application of iodine, the cells of turmeric be¬ 
come of a deep blue, and with potash, of a reddish 
colour.” With iodine the cell contents become blue, 
this being in no way peculiar to turmeric, but the 
cells themselves certainly do not without the help of 
sulphuric acid. Potash also affects the colouring 
matter only. The action of sulphuric and sulplio- 
chromic acids is perhaps more interesting than that 
of iodine and potash. Immediately on the applica¬ 
tion of these reagents, the colouring matter changes 
to a rose pink of a rather unusual shade; a reaction 
which is not without its use in the examination of 
mustard. 
Arnioe Radix. —I shall describe the structure of 
the rhizome only. 
Medulla .—Largely developed, and consists of 
parenchyma of the loose spongy type, its cells being 
either globose or hexagonal (in cross section) and 
very tliin-walled. Starch in small quantities in 
minute ovate or globular granules is contained in a 
few of such of the medulla cells as are not filled with 
a dark brown, when dry almost black, colouring 
matter which rapidly dissolves in potash, and is of 
deep turmeric yellow in solution. The medulla is 
encircled by vascular bundles, oval in cross section, 
and consisting of liber tubes enclosed within pitted 
or barred vessels. Immediately outside this incom¬ 
plete medullary sheath are well devoloped canali- 
culi, or secretory ducts of unusual size, and frequently 
in twos. The structure of these ducts is similar to 
that of the oil receptacula in the rind of an orange, 
figured in Balfour’s ‘ Outlines ’ and many other books 
on botany. They are cavities bounded by a layer 
of somewhat compressed cells, and then by the ordi¬ 
nary cellular tissue of the cortical substance. The. 
direction of the canals is not directly perpendicular 
to the cross section of the rhizome, but somewhat 
oblique. These vessels contain a dark yellow colour¬ 
ing matter, and are best seen in a thick section 
mounted as an opaque object. Their structure 
must of course be studied in the ordinary way. The 
structure of the cortical layers is not distinguished 
by any special features. 
The minute structure of the barred vessels of 
the vascular system is rather interesting on account 
of their varied cohesion, and the distinctly present 
annuloid thickening of the vessels where the septa 
have been absorbed. 
Valerians Radix.— The structure of the rootlets 
of valerian is simple. A largely developed cortical 
structure, consisting of large-sized angular cells, en¬ 
closes a cylinder composed of barred vessels and 
wood fibres, none of which present any characteristic 
features. The cortical cells contain great quantities 
of starch granules, separate or in twos, rarely more, 
doubly refractive and with a distinct radiate hilum. 
The structure of the rhizome is much modified by 
the rootlets. Its cells are smaller than those of the 
rootlets, and are deeply stained by a dark yellow (or 
brown) fluid which is contained in the long liber 
tubes surrounding the abortive vascular sheath of 
the medulla. The plant is so easily obtained in 
a fresh state and readily examined that a further 
description here is unnecessary. 
Iris Florentinum.’ —Orris root is occasionally 
used as an’adulterant; a brief notice of it may, there¬ 
fore, be useful here. The readiest w r ay of preparing 
specimens for examination is to cut thin slices, and 
allow them to macerate in water for a few hours, 
when the starch-containing cells may be readily 
isolated. The root may also be reduced to fine pow¬ 
der, and thus examined in glycerine and in balsam. 
Examination of cross section of the entire root will 
be of little use for detective purposes, as it consists 
of little else than a very largely developed central 
parenchyma encircled with a single ring of vascular 
vessels, around which are the cortical layers. The 
cells of the parenchyma are large, irregularly shaped, 
and contain great quantities of starch granules. 
The vascular vessels are entirely of the common 
type and few in number. The same remark will 
apply to the wood fibres. Very large prismatic crys¬ 
tals are found in connection with the vessels, and 
are brilliantly doubly refractive. 
The starch granules are the only components of 
the root with which it is necessary to become familiar. 
They are large, of tolerably uniform size, but rather 
varied in shape. The hilum is usually a longitudinal 
furrow, rarely radiate, and very rarely punctate. 
The general shape of the granules is oval, sometimes 
they are mussel-shaped, triangular and, when small, 
circular. The largest granules are flattened and 
somewhat concave. All of them give a cross, 
varied in character with the shape of the granule, 
when viewed by polarized light. A slide prepared 
by the rough and ready method of scraping a piece 
of root, and mounting the powder so obtained in 
Canada balsam forms a lovely polariscope object, 
from the presence of portions of the crystals just 
mentioned and wood fibre, all of which are doubly 
refractive, but differently. The crystals give good 
“rings.” Amongst the illicit uses of orris root, 
Hassall mentions the adulteration of marmalade and 
snuff. I have not myself detected its presence in 
either. 
CINCHONA PLANTATIONS IN BRITISH SIKKIM. 
Tenth Annual Report by George King, Esq., M.B., 
Superintendent , Botanical Garden , and in charye of Cin¬ 
chona Cultivation in Bengal. 
I received charge of the cinchona cultivation in Sik¬ 
kim from my predecessor, Mr. C. B. Clarke, on the 10th 
July, 1871. Since doing so I have had an opportunity 
of visiting the Government cinchona plantations both 
on [the Nilgiris and in Ceylon, and, by the courtesy of 
the proprietors, many of the private plantations as well. 
2. Natural features of the Rungbee Valley. —As none of 
the reports of my predecessors contain a description of 
the natural features of the Rungbee Valley, where the 
cinchona cultivation is conducted, it may be of advan¬ 
tage to the better understanding of what is to follow if 
I begin this report by giving a short sketch of these. 
3. The Rungbee Valley* runs almost due west and 
east. At its western end it is shut in by a ridge of 
mountain more than 6000 feet high, in which the Rungjo 
stream has its origin.. By its eastern extremity, which 
opens into the valley of the Teesta, the Rimgjo stream 
escapes to join its waters with those of that river. Com¬ 
pared to its length, which is only about sixteen miles, it 
* The valley ought properly to have been named after the 
Rungjo, which is its chief stream; the Rungbee is but a small 
tributary of the Rungjo. The smaller stream has, however, 
been allowed to give its name to the valley, and it is too late 
now to alter the arrangement. 
