174 DISPENSATORY OF THE V. S. OF AMERICA. 
our market, but we have been unable to trace its origin ac- 
curately. There can be little doubt, from its internal cha- 
racter, that it comes from the East Indies, and is the product 
of Jl. catechu ; but no accounts that we have seen, of the 
preparation of the drug in particular geographical sites, in- 
dicate this particular shape; and it is not impossible that 
portions of it may be formed out of other varieties of cate- 
chu by a new solution and evaporation." 2. Pegu catechu. 
This is stated to be derived from Burmah. "It enters com- 
merce, probably, in general, through Calcutta, in large 
masses, sometimes of a hundred weight, consisting of layers 
of flat cakes, each wrapped in leaves, said to be those of the 
Nauclea Brunonis. In this form, however, we do not see 
it in the shops; but almost always in angular, irregular frag- 
ments, in which portions of two layers sometimes cohere, 
with leaves between them, indicating their origin. It is 
characterized by its compactness, its shining fracture, and 
its blackish-brown, or dark, Port wine color, so that when 
finely broken, it bears no inconsiderable resemblance to 
kino." 3. Catechu in quadrangular cakes. — We are told 
that "this is scarcely ever found in the shops in its complete 
form, and the fragments are often such that it would be im- 
possible to infer from them the original shape of the cake. 
This is usually between two and three inches in length and 
breadth, and somewhat less in thickness; of a rusty brown 
color externally, and dark brown, or brownish-gray, within, 
with a somewhat rough and dull fracture, but when broken 
across the layers in which it is sometimes disposed, exhibit- 
ing a smoother and more shining surface." " There is little 
doubt that .this variety comes from the provinces of Bahar 
and Northern India, where the preparation of the drug was 
witnessed by Mr. Kerr and Dr. Boyle, who both speak of 
it as being cut, when drying, into the quadrangular form. 
It has been called Bengal catechu, because exported from 
that province." 4. Catechu in Balls. — This occurs in two 
forms: "the one consisting of globular balls, about as large 
