JUustrations of Scientific anb flecbnical IReports 
mabe since 1806, 
chiefly at the request of the Indian and Colonial Governments, based upon experimental 
investigations conducted in the Laboratories of the Department, and on the opinions of 
scientific, technical, and commercial referees. 
INDIA. 
(For further particulars see “Parliamentary Return of the Imperial Institute, Indian 
Section, August, 1899.” Eyre & Spottiswoode, London). 
Aconites. 
A chemical examination has been made of the constituents of the principal varieties 
of aconite indigenous to India. The medicinally active constituent has been examined, 
its chemical composition and properties defined and its exact medicinal action ascertained. 
Several papers on the subject have been already published (see Addendum) relating to 
Aconittim ferox^ Aconitum- heterophylLiim, and Acomtmn Fischeri. 
Tobacco. 
A consignment of specially prepared tobacco was sent from Tirhoot for chemical 
analysis and commercial valuation with a view to the satisfactory sale of the consignment. 
The results of its analysis, together with a sample of the tobacco, were submitted to a 
number of tobacco manufacturers and brokers and the consignment was afterwards sold 
at a fair price. 
Arrangements are now being made for a systematic examination of the different 
varieties of tobacco grown in India with a view to the improvement of certain growths. 
Opium. 
A detailed enquiry is being conducted as to the quality of the opium produced in 
the different opium districts of India. It originated in a request for a chemical 
examination of opium specially grown in Jeypore, which proved to contain much less 
morphine and far more narcotine than is usually present in the best Tuikey opium 
medicinally employed in this country. 
The same peculiarity is shown by most of the opium produced in India and the 
question is being fully investigated with the view of ascertaining the cause of this 
difference in Indian as compared with Turkey opium and the possibility of improving 
the Indian product. 
If Indian opium could be produced richer in morphine, there is no reason why it 
should not be medicinally employed in Europe, instead of Turkey opium; and also used 
as a source of morphine and odier alkaloids. 
Podophyllum. 
A complete chemical examination has been made of the constituents of the Indian 
podophyllum {Podophyllum cuiodi). It has been shown in a paper communicated to 
the Chemical Society (see Addendum) that its constituents are identical vith those of 
American podophyllum [Podophyllum peltatimi) which is largely employed in medicine, 
both in this country and throughout Europe. Ihe exact chemical nature of the 
medicinally active constituent has been a.scertained and it is shown to be present to a 
greater extent in the Indian product than in the American. 
