190 PLANT AND ORGANIC CHEMISTRY 
Pounds. 
Value. 
1884...... 
$718,035 
1885.. 
.........3,559,691 
913,189 
Of sulphate of quinia: 
Ounces. 
Value. 
1884.... 
.1,263,732 
$1,610,163 
1885... 
.1,390,126 
1,292,794 
Other salts of quinia: 
Ounces. 
Value. 
1884... 
....._ 712 
$1,038 
1885.... 
......... 5,435 
1,868 
Cinchonidia: 
Ounces. 
Value. 
1884... 
.. 381,885 
$206,405 
1885... 
. 478,747 
220,846 
A New York firm 1 has recently introduced upon the mar¬ 
ket quintessential oils; the odorous principle of these oils is 
due to the stearoptens or camphors, which readily separate 
from the more volatile portions. 
It has been suggested, owing to the scarcity of gum arabic, 
to introduce upon the market a gum 2 from a Mexican tree, 
called the mesquite. This gum exudes from the stem and 
branches during the summer months. The analysis of this 
gum offers several interesting features: amongst others its 
solutions can be combined with basic lead acetate and ferric 
salts, without being precipitated, and, it is suggested, for this 
reason, as more applicable in medicine than gum arabic. It 
is probable that, in time, gum mesquite will become a com¬ 
mercial article of importance. 
We are indebted to plants for our tea, coffee, and chocolate 
supply, and these articles may be reckoned among our foods; 
for one or all are used by every people. 
In Spain, chocolate is looked upon as a necessity. The 
Spaniard may be seen making his early breakfast with a slice 
of bread spread with a thick paste of chocolate. The smiling- 
faced “cocinero” told me how he prepared it, by carefully 
1 Fritzsche Brothers. 
2 “Products of the Mesquite,” by H. J. Schuchard. Amer. Jour. Pharm., 
November, 1885, p. 542. 
