ON  THE  GREEN  FRUIT  OF  DIOSPYROS  VIRGINIANA.  215 
From  these  results  the  composition  of  the  ashes  maybe  represented  as 
follows 
The  soluble  portion  consists  of 
Chloride  of  sodium       .       .  .  26 ,74  per  cent. 
Carbonate  of  soda        .        .  .  6.79  u 
Sulphate  of  Potash       .       .  .  4.09  " 
Carbonate  of  Potash      .       .  .  29.23.  « 
The  insoluble  part  of 
Silicic  acid 
Proto-sesquioxide  of  manganese 
Sesquioxide  of  iron 
Carbonate  of  magnesia 
Pyrophosphate  of  lime 
Carbonate  of  lime 
9.34 
4.56 
3.38 
13.33 
5.56 
5.76 
98.78. 
56.85. 
41.93, 
ON  THE  GREEN  FRUIT  OF  DIOSPYROS  VIRGINIAN  A,  OR 
PERSIMMON. 
By  John  E.  Bryan. 
(An  Inaugural  Essay.) 
The  persimmon  is  an  indigenous  tree  attaining  an  average 
height  of  40  feet  in  favorable  situations  in  the  southern  and 
middle  States.  The  trunk  is  covered  with  a  rough,  black  and 
deeply  furrowed  bark,  resembling  some  of  the  species  of  oak. 
The  unripe  fruit,  which  is  officinal  in  the  secondary  list  of 
the  U.  S.  Pharmacopoeia,  is  the  portion  which  I  have  selected 
as  a  suitable  subject  for  an  experimental  essay. 
It  consists  of  a  round  or  oval  berry  of  a  pulpy  nature,  con- 
taining from  one  to  ten  well  developed  seeds  of  a  hard  and 
horny  character,  arranged  in  a  star-like  form.  From  among  a 
great  number  of  experiments  I  have  selected  the  following  as 
being  most  satisfactory. 
1st.  A  quantity  of  persimmons  were  gathered  about  the  first 
of  August.  At  this  time  they  were  not  more  than  two-thirds 
of  their  size  when  mature,  of  a  deep  green  color,  and  purely 
astringent  taste.  An  infusion  was  made  and  portions  tested 
with  solutions  of  gelatin,  subacetate  of  lead,  and  acetate  of 
strychnia.    These  all  gave  precipitates,  the  latter  soluble  in  an 
