54« 
Varieties. 
Am.  Jour  Pharo*. 
Nov.,  1878 
some.  A  youthful  brave  was  very  careful  to  inform  me  that  young  Indians  never 
eat  that  stuff.  If  the  procuring  and  cooking  of  the  same  depended  upon  the  young 
Indians  (males),  they  would  go  hungry  a  long  time,  for  their  laziness  scarcely  stim- 
ulates them  to  collect  food  ;  even  if  hungry  they  expect  everything  to  be  done  by 
the  older  females. 
Madaria  elegans. — The  seeds  of  this  species  of  tar-weed  are  ground  into  flour,,, 
made  into  thin  cakes,  and  baked  in  hot  ashes  by  the  California  Indians.  When 
cooked  the  bread  has  a  gray  but  not  very  inviting  look,  yet  the  Indian  eats  it  with- 
out complaint,  though  he  prefers  corn  bread. 
Arundo  phragmitis,  a  species  of  cane  growing  along  water  courses  and  about 
springs  in  Southern  Utah.  Numerous  small  insects  puncture  the  leaves  of  this  plant 
and  a  liquid  exudes.  While  in  a  soft  state  it  is  scraped  off  by  the  Indians  with  their 
long  finger  nails  and  eaten.  At  first  it  has  a  paste-like  softness,  but  hardens  like 
gum  arabic,  with  a  sugar  candy  density  and  color,  having  a  rather  sweet,  gummy,, 
liquorice  taste.  When  the  exudations  are  sufficiently  hardened  the  cane  is  cut  and 
laid  in  bundles  on  blankets,  the  manna-like  food  is  then  easily  shaken  off.  This 
substance  if  mixed  with  water  forms  a  pleasant,  nutritious  drink,  highly  prized  by 
the  Indians  who  call  it  Pah-gump-pea-abbah. 
Honey. — Since  the  introduction  of  bees  to  the  Pacific  coast  the  Indians  have 
acquired  a  taste  for  honey.  The  climate  being  mild  the  bees  increase  rapidly,  and 
many  swarms  yearly  escape  to  trees  and  rocks,  thus  giving  the  Indian  a  chance  to 
obtain  the  honey.  Some  California  Indians  have  domesticated  the  wild  bees.  In 
Southern  California  the  Indians  cut  down  the  trees  containing  bees,  put  them  in  a 
sack,  carry  away  the  honey  to  eat,  and  sell  the  bees  for  one  dollar  a  swarm,  the 
purchaser  taking  all  risks  of  getting  a  queen.  Bees  in  a  sack,  for  sale  by  an  Indian^ 
are  surely  a  novel  article  of  trade. — The  American  Naturalist,  September. 
(To  be  concluded.) 
VARIETIES. 
The  Use  of  Thymol. — Thymic  acid  and  thymol  can  now  be  had  of  our  leadings 
druggists.  It  is  recommended  for  use  with  "  Lister's  Antiseptic  Dressing,"  in  pro- 
portion of  1  part  to  20  of  glycerin  aud  100  of  water.  This  solution  does- 
not  affect  the  instruments  nor  benumb  the  hands  of  the  operator.  As  a  local  appli- 
cation it  is  especially  useful,  proving  not  offensive  by  its  odor,  like  carbolic  acid, 
while  at  the  same  time  it  is  more  effective,  and  can  be  used  in  smaller  quantities. 
The  following  formulae  have  been  suggested : 
Glycerole  of  Thymol. — Thymol,  1  part ;  glycerole  of  starch,  100  parts. 
Thymol  Lotion. — Thymol,  1  part ;  alcohol,  4  parts. 
Ointment  of  Thymol. — Thymol,  1-4  parts  ;  lard,  100  parts. —  Med.  and  Surg.  Rep.* 
August  17. 
