4  Murray  Red  Gum  and  Its  Kino.      {A  januar'yfSfr' 
the  enormous  variation  in  the  properties  of  kinos  caused  by- 
age: 
"  Of  ioo  parts,  90  are  dissolved  in  cold  water,  the  solution  being 
clear ;  27  parts  of  isinglass  precipitate  all  the  astringent  matter." — 
Squire's  Companion  to  the  B.  P. 
Dr.  Wiesner  says  of  a  sample : 
"Easily  soluble  in  water  and  alcohol;  solution  neutral,  free  from 
gum  resin.  Broken  masses  of  zircon-red,  sometimes  light  brown, 
mixed  with  bits  of  bark." 
Following  are  experiments  on  "  Red  Gum  "  kino  purchased  in 
Sydney,  November  22,  1888,  ot  Victorian  origin:  In  lumps  up  to 
the  size  of  peas,  though  angular.  Prevailing  color,  purplish-brown; 
is  readily  powdered  between  the  fingers,  forming  an  ochrey-brown 
powder.  The  mass  of  kino  has  not  the  brilliant  appearance  of  the 
kinos  of  the  ruby  group,  owing  to  this  friability. 
In  cold  water  it  dissolves  fairly  readily,  and  almost  entirely  to  a 
reddish-brown  liquid. 
Its  composition  (determined  November,  1888)  is: 
Catechin  and  tannic  acid   84*3 
Ligneous  matter,  etc   *3 
Moisture   15*2 
Ash   "i 
IOO'OO 
Tannic  acid  determination  (Lbwenthal),  46-22  per  cent. 
A  specimen  of  kino  from  the  "  Creek  Gum,"  Tarella,  Wilcannia, 
August  23,  1887  (diameter,  1-2  feet;  height,  30-40  feet),  gave  the 
following  results  :  it  is  only  obtainable  in  rather  small  quantities 
and  in  rather  small  pieces ;  pale,  as  kinos  go,  very  bright-looking, 
and  of  a  ruby  color ;  powders  fairly  readily,  forming  a  powder  of  a 
light-brown  tint.  It  dissolves  almost  immediately  to  a  pale  brown- 
ish or  almost  orange  solution,  leaving  a  sediment  of  a  whitish- 
salmon  color  with  a  few  dark-colored  particles,  like  those  of  E. 
goniocalyx,  only  cleaner-looking. 
Its  composition,  determined  October,  1888,  is: 
Catechin  and  tannic  acid   827 
Ligneous  matter,  etc   '6 
Moisture   15 '8 
Ash   -9 
IOO'OO 
Tannic  acid  determination  (Lbwenthal),  47746  per  cent. 
