150 BOTANICAL AND PHARMACEUTICAL DESIDERATA. 
platinum-black I have succeeded in depriving of their taste 
and color a number tinctures ; the tincture of columbo 
succeeded best; 2 grms. of platinum entirely deprived 8 
grms. of tincture of taste, but at the same time there is pro- 
duced a certain quantity of aldehyde and acetic acid. Un- 
fortunately, the action of platinum black appears to be quick- 
ly exhausted ; and it does not appear to me to stand in any 
relation to the force which might be expected from its ex- 
cessive porosity and extreme division ; I am therefore led to 
believe that the property possessed by charcoal is not solely 
due to its porosity, but that it is also owing to some peculiar 
affinity. — Joum. de Pfiarm.Sept. and Oct.1849, and Chem. 
Gaz. Nov. 16, 1S49. 
ART. XXXVII.— BOTANICAL AND PHARMACEUTICAL 
DESIDERATA. 
By Sir William Hooker. 
(From the Manual of Scientific Enquiry, Edited by Sir J. Y. W. HerBchel, Bart.) 
AFRICA (INCLUDING ARABIA AND ABYSSINIA.) 
Cape Aloes. — What is the particular species of Aloe afford- 
ing the drug of this name ? What is the kind used at Bethels- 
dorp, near Algoa Bay ? 
Madagascar Cardamom. — Is it Amomum angusti- 
folium / Specimens of the plant and fruit should be sent 
home. 
Scitamineous Fruits of Western Africa. — A full collec- 
tion of these (comprising the various kinds of cardamom), 
the plants, with roots and fruit, should be transmitted home, 
with the native names appended to them. 
Myrrh. — Is the myrrh of commerce produced by one 
vegetable species, or several? If by several, specimens of 
each kind and of the plant affording it are desirable, accom- 
panied by the native appellations. It is particularly im- 
