182 
EDITORIAL.  PEREIRA's  MATERIA  MEDICA. 
"Oleum  cinnamomi  foliorum  ;Oilof  Cinnamon  leaf— It  is  exported  from 
Ceylon  and  is  sometimes  called  clove  oil.  I  am  it) formed  by  a  gentleman  on 
whose  estate  in  Ceylon  it  is  obtained,  that  it  is  procured  by  macerating  the 
leaves  in  sea  water,  and  afterwards  submitting  both  to  distillation.  It  is  a 
yellow  liquid,  heavier  than  water,  and  has  an  odor  and  taste  analogous  to 
those  of  oil  of  cloves.  Bennett  declares  it  to  be  equal  in  aromatic  pungency 
to  the  oil  made  from  the  clove  at  the  Molucca  Islands.  Oil  of  cinnamon 
leaves  is,  however, specifically  lighter  than  genuine  oil  of  cloves;  but  like  the 
latter  it  yields  a  dark  blue  color  with  tincture  of  thesesqui  chloride  of  iron.:j 
No  notice  is  taken  of  Aristolochia  reticulata  as  a  source  of  the  commercial 
serpentaria  either  by  Dr.  Pereira  or  Dr.  Carson  :  this  is  an  oversight  as  it  is 
the  source  of  a  large  portion  of  the  present  commercial  Virginia  snake  root. 
Myristica  fragrans  of  Houttuyn  is  adopted  as  the  botanical  source  of 
nutmegs  and  mace. 
Speaking  of  Banbury  or  English  Rhubarb,  Dr.  Pereira  states  that  Mr. 
William  Hayward,  an  apothecary  of  Banbury,  was  the  original  cultivator, 
about  the  year  1777.  At  present  about  twelve  acres  are  under  culture. 
The  roots  are  removed  when  two  or  three  years  old,  in  October  and  Novem- 
ber. Dr.  Pereira  admits  that  the  powdered  root  "  is  extensively  employed 
by  druggists  to  adulterate  the  powder  of  Asiatic  Rhubarb/' 
The  chemistry  of  the  Solanese  has  been  much  amended,  especially  in  refe- 
rence to  belladonna  and  tobacco.  The  article  scammony  has  received 
many  additions,  yet  it  needs  revision  already  as  the  statements  of  Mr. 
Maltass,  of  Smyrna  (Pharm.  Jour.  xiii.  264),  throw  much  light  on  its 
origin  and  mode  of  preparation. 
The  botanical  source  of  Jalap  is  again  changed  to  Exogonium  purga. 
The  chemistry  of  this  drug  has  been  revised,  but  the  recent  observations  of 
Mayer  (Chem.  Gazette,  xi.  21)  are  not  alluded  to. 
St  Ignatius's  beans  are  attributed  to  Ignatia  amara.  In  connection  with 
the  Strychnese,  Dr.  Pereira  describes  the  S.  potatorum  or  clearing  nut,  the 
product  of  a  large  tree  of  Silhet.  The  natives  prefer  to  drink  river  water 
after  clearing  it  with  these  nuts,  which  is  effected  by  rubbing  the  seeds 
for  a  minute  or  two  around  the  inside  of  the  earthen  vessels  containing  the 
water.  In  a  short  time  the  impurities  settle  in  a  coagulated  form  to  the 
bottom  leaving  the  water  clear  and  wholesome.  Dr.  Pereira  attributes  the 
fining  property  of  these  seeds  to  vegetable  albumen  and  casein. 
The  gutta  percha  tree,  Isonandra  gutta  of  Hooker,  is  described  and  figured. 
Kawallier's  analysis  of  uva  ursi  was  published  before  Dr.  Pereira's  death, 
(Pharm.  Jour.  xii.  190)  and  should  have  been  noticed  in  the  last  volume  by 
the  Editors.  The  acuteness  of  the  author  has  not  overlooked  the  curious 
structure  of  the  seeds  of  Lobelia  inflata,  see  fig.  320. 
They  are  about  l-33d  of  an  inch  long  and  l-85th 
broad,  with  a  reticulated  cuticle.  Mr.  Curtis  (Pharm. 
Journal  xii.  119)  considers  this  structure  so  pecu- 
liar, even  when  compared  with  other  species  of  the 
genus,  as  to  warrant  its  use,  in  medico-legal  investi- 
A  Seed  of  Lobelia  inflata,  gations,  for  distinguishing  these  seeds  in  cases 
highly  magnified.       where  their  use  has  been  abused. 
