STATISTICS  OF  THE  INDIGENOUS  ROOTS,  ETC. 
455 
Petroleum,  compared  in  value  with  crude  coal  oil,  as  a  source 
of  illuminating  fluids,  is  a  question  of  much  interest,  and  as  far 
as  this  specimen  is  concerned,  not  difficult  to  decide.  Volume 
for  volume,  it  certainly  yields  a  much  larger  per  cent,  of  oil 
within  certain  gravities,  than  crude  coal  oil  from  Western  Can- 
nel  coal.  The  loss  in  and  expense  of  refining,  is  also  much  less 
than  that  of  coal  oil.  But  respecting  the  value  of  the  true 
hydro-carbons,  that  from  coal  possesses,  in  every  respect,  a  de- 
cided superiority. — The  Druggist,  Cincinnati,  June  15,  1860. 
STATISTICS  OF  THE  INDIGENOUS  ROOTS,  BARKS,  Etc.,  AND 
THEIR  PRODUCTS. 
The  value  of  correct  and  reliable  statistical  information  can 
not  be  too  highly  estimated  ;  and  as  but  few  persons,  even  here, 
are  aware  of  the  extent  of  the  trade,  manufacture,  and  use  of 
the  medicinal  plants  of  the  United  States,  and  especially  those 
of  the  Mississippi  Valley,  we  have  compiled  the  following  table, 
showing  the  amount  of  this  business  in  Cincinnati.  Our  infor- 
mation has  been  obtained  from  the  most  reliable  sources,  and 
we  fully  believe  our  estimates  are  rather  under  than  over  the 
maximum  quantities. 
There  are  in  this  city  four  laboratories,  at  which  the  resinoids, 
extracts,  and  fluid  extracts  are  manufactured  on  a  large  scale  ; 
and  in  addition,  several  of  the  druggists  and  apothecaries  pre- 
pare considerable  quantities  of  them. 
In  this  table  we  have  not  included  any  articles  but  those 
actually  used  for  medicinal  purposes,  and  have  even  rejected 
ginseng,  about  50,000  pounds  of  which  are  annually  received  at 
this  port. 
Table  of  Resinoids,  Extracts,  etc.,  manufactured  at  Cincinnati 
for  the  year,  ending  May  1st,  1860. 
Resinoids,  150,000  ounces. 
Extracts,  Inspissated  Juices,  etc.,       26,500  pounds. 
Essential  Tinctures,  4,000  « 
Tinctures,  Syrups,  etc.,  50,000  « 
Of  Podophyllin  and  Leptandrin,  about  equal  quantities  are 
prepared,  and  the  two  constitute  more  than  one-half  of  all  the 
resinoids  produced. 
