408 
Resume  of  Recurrent  Topics. 
Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
August.  1897. 
taken  from  a  shrub,  and  was  received  while  in  the  moist  green  state, 
a  condition  favorable  to  a  large  yield  of  tannin ;  the  other  was 
apparently  from  a  much  older  tree,  and  apparently  much  of  the 
tannin  was  changed  to  an  insoluble  red  coloring.  The  low  ash  can- 
not be  accounted  for. 
In  connection  with  this  the  following  description  of  the  Indian 
species  by  Dr.  Ridley  may  be  of  interest. 
Castanopsis  Wallichiana.  Nuts  commonly  eaten.  If  there  are  not  two 
species  mixed  under  this  name,  the  leaves  are  very  variable. 
C.  Curtisii,  King.  Native  name,  "  Berangan  Janthong."  One  from  the  type 
tree  in  Penang,  marked  "  old  tree,"  the  other  marked  "  young  tree,"  brought 
by  a  native  collection  from  our  forests  here  ;  though  the  collector  persists  it  is 
Curtisii,  I  have  never  myself  seen  this  species  in  Singapore. 
C.  Javanica,  King.  Native  name,  "Berangan  Gajah."  I  think  two  species 
may  have  been  placed  under  this  name  by  Dr.  King.  The  fruits  of  the  sample 
sent  are  very  large  ;  nuts  single,  oblong,  about  three  inches  in  length;  they  are 
purgative  when  eaten. 
C.  Hullettii,  King.  Native  name  "  Berangan  Papau,  i.  e.,  plank  chestnut. 
A  big  tree,  nuts  bitter,  not  eaten. 
Quercus  hystrix.  Native  name,  "  Mempening. "  A  very  common  oak  in 
Singapore. 
Q.  discocarpa,  from  Penang.  I  hardly  see  why  this  is  not  a  Castanopsis;  the 
fruit  is  just  that  of  one. 
RESUME  OF  RECURRENT  TOPICS. 
By  Wiijjam  B.  Thompson. 
The  Gradations  of  Chemistry. — In  the  classification  of  the  various 
branches  of  this  science  (and  the  divisions  are  very  numerous,  as 
well  as  comprehensive),  it  will  be  observed  that  some  attach  natur- 
ally to  therapy  and  others  to  that  of  pharmacy.  In  a  general 
sense  we  may  say  that  the  physician  who  fails  to  give  full  consid- 
eration to  biological  and  physiological  chemistry  cannot  be  correct  at 
diagnosis.  Whilst,  on  the  other  hand,  the  pharmacist  who  omits  to 
comprehend  the  relations  of  toxicological  and  pharmaceutical  chem- 
istry cannot  proceed  intelligently  in  applying  knowledge  to  his  art. 
A  pharmacist  appreciating  the  aids  to  the  pursuit  of  his  business 
could  wisely  adopt  as  a  special  study  one  of  the  many  divisions  of 
chemical  science.  Practice  in  this  might,  in  time,  be  made  remun- 
erative. Apart  from  the  utility,  it  is  a  most  enticing  and  absorb- 
ing theme,  and  furnishes  the  key  which  unlocks  some  of  the  most 
profound  and  amazing  mysteries  of  the  material  world.    A  taste  of 
