Am.  Jour.  Pharm.l 
August,  1897.  J 
The  Tannin  of  Castanopsis. 
407 
identical  with  that  from  Quercus  densiflora,  and,  therefore,  with  all 
the  other  species  of  oak  which  have  hitherto  been  examined  by  me. 
Since  chestnut  tannin  is  identical  with  gall  tannin,  and  that  from  the 
oak  is  quite  a  different  substance,  the  result  from  a  chemical  stand- 
point, placed  the  Castanopsis  chrysophylla  with  quercus. 
The  natural  sequence  of  this  investigation  was  a  desire  to  examine 
the  several  species  of  castanopsis  of  India,  where  all  the  other  mem- 
bers of  the  genus  grow,  and  through  the  kindness  of  Dr.  Ridley  this 
ihas  been  possible.  It  is  to  be  regretted,  however,  that  only  the 
percentage  amount  of  tannin  and  some  general  characters  can  be 
given  at  this  time,  since  there  was  not  sufficient  material  to  admit  of 
a  final  decision  in  regard  to  the  composition  of  the  tannin.  The 
attempt  was  made  to  purify  two  lots  of  tannin  from  these  barks,  but 
it  is  only  safe  at  present  to  state  that  the  indications  point  to  the 
presence  of  oak  tannin  in  all  the  Indian  species.  An  additional 
liberal  supply  of  the  bark  from  the  American  species  was  also 
received  from  Miss  Alice  Eastwood,  of  the  California  Academy  of 
Science,  collected  by  Dr.  Geo.  McCowen,  Ukiah,  California. 
Moisture. 
Ash  in  absolutely- 
dry  sample. 
Tannin  in 
absolutely  dry  sample. 
Castanopsis  Wallichiana  .  .  . 
8-94 
4-40 
5'37 
<(         Curtisii  (old  tree)1  . 
8-53 
2-03 
16*07 
"             "    (young  tree)2 
6/81 
4'4I 
7*21 
6'93 
4-61 
8-o6 
Hullettii  
6-5i 
377 
673 
7'co 
6*20 
8-6o 
7-27 
3-93  . 
5-28 
Castanopsis  chrysophylla  .  .  . 
4272 
370 
18-92 
<  <                  <  < 
10-43 
o*6i 
8-58 
10-31 
2-46 
l6T2 
1  Collected  in  Penang. 
2  "         "  Singapore. 
The  two  specimens  of  Castanopsis  chrysophylla  were  quite  different 
in  character ;  the  one  showing  the  large  percentage  of  moisture  was 
