28  Notes  on  Casual  Drugs.  {Am){lu%w*rm 
determined.  The  galls  contain  about  40  per  cent,  of  a  very  pure 
tannin. 
In  Morocco  these  galls  are  known  under  the  name  of  Tacout,  and 
are  produced  upon  the  twigs  of  Tamarix  articulata,  Vahl.  In  India, 
similar  galls  are  produced  upon  Tamarix  Gallica,  L.,  and  Tamarix  ori- 
entalis^  Vahl.  ;  those  of  the  former  plant  are  usually  rather  larger,  and 
are  called  Bara-mai  in  Hindostanee  ;  the  smaller  ones,  from  Tamarix 
orientalis,  being  called  Chota-mai.  The  Tamarisk  galls  of  India  also 
occasionally  find  their  way  into  English  commerce,  and  if  better  known 
would  probably  be  largely  used  for  tanning  purposes. 
A  strong  infusion  of  these  galls  has  been  recommended  in  India  as 
an  application  to  foul  ulcers,  and  by  the  natives  they  are  used  in  diar- 
rhoea and  dysentery. 
Calophyllum  inophyllum,  L. — The  fruits  of  this  plant  were 
imported  from  the  Mauritius  under  the  name  of  oil  seeds.  The  fruits 
as  imported  consist  of  the  hard  woody  endocarp.  They  are  about  the 
size  of  an  English  oak  gall,  nearly  globular,  with  a  small  projecting 
point  at  one  end,  and  contain  a  yellowish-white  oily  kernel.  Accord- 
ing to  the  official  report  of  the  products  in  the  India  Museum,  the  seeds 
yield  60  per  cent,  of  a  fragrant  green  oil,  fluid  at  ordinary  temperatures, 
but  beginning  to  solidify  when  cooled  below  500  Fahr. 
In  India  it  is  used  as  a  lamp  oil  and  also  as  an  outward  application 
for  rheumatism.  Although  apparently  unknown  in  the  commerce  of 
this  country  in  1847-8,  nearly  4,000  gallons  of  the  oil  were  exported 
from  Madras  to  Ceylon  and  the  Straits  settlements.  The  tree  yield- 
ing these  seeds  bears  handsome  white  fragrant  flowers,  and  it  may  not 
be  out  of  place  here  to  remark  that  there  is  a  wide  field  for  experiment 
among  the  native  plants  of  India  for  those  interested  in  perfumery. 
The  following  note,  extracted  from  Seemann's  "Flora  Vitiensis,"  will 
show  how  highly  the  oil  obtained  from  these  nuts  is  esteemed  in  Fiji, 
as  well  as  the  method  of  extraction  : 
"  The  most  valuable  oil  produced  in  Fiji  is  that  extracted  from  the 
seeds  of  this  tree,  the  dilo  of  the  natives,  the  tamarind  of  Eastern 
Polynesia,  and  the  cashumpa  of  India.  It  is  the  bitter  oil  or  woondel 
of  Indian  commerce.  The  natives  use  it  for  polishing  arms  and  greas- 
ing their  bodies,  when  cocoa-nut  oil  is  not  at  hand.  But  the  great 
reputation  this  oil  enjoys  throughout  Polynesia  and  the  East  Indies 
rests  upon  its  medicinal  properties  as  a  liniment  in  rheumatism,  pains 
