274 
VARIETIES. 
ceeded, by the use of some other reagents, in producing 
some highly remarkable changes of color in a solution of 
the sulphate of quinine. 
If an excess of a concentrated solution of the ferrocyanide 
of potassium, instead of ammonia, is added to the solution 
mixed with chlorine water, a dark red color is instantly 
produced, which persists some hours, but then passes into 
green, especially when exposed to the action of light. This 
reaction is highly characteristic of quinine. If caustic pot- 
ash is used instead of the ammonia, the solution acquires a 
sulphur-yellow color. A solution of chloride of lime mixed 
with muriatic acid may be advantageously substituted for 
the chlorine water, in which case a green powder falls on 
the addition of ammonia. As the above reactions do not 
take place with cinchonine, they may be considered as dis- 
tinguishing characters of the two alkaloids. — Chem. Gaz. 
from Leibig's Jfcnnalen, Feb. 1850. 
Chinese " Rice Paper" or " BokShung." — Thanks to 
our most obliging friend, Capt. Wm. Lohring, R. N., who 
has put us in communication with several intelligent gen- 
tlemen now resident in China, we are in a fair way of 
obtaining correct intelligence relative to many interesting 
scientific objects, and of having our doubts solved on some 
important botanical matters. J. H. Layton, Esq., H. B. 
Majesty's Consul at Amoy, China, has most kindly sent us, 
not only excellent specimens of the pith, from which the 
so called Rice-paper is formed, but a model of the knife 
used in cutting it, and, what is even of more value, the 
following information : — 
The substance, commonly called Rice-paper by the 
Chinese, is made from the pith of a plant or tree, which 
grows principally in the swampy grounds in the province 
of Sam-swi, in the northern part of the island of Formosa, 
where it is said to form large forests. The bark and rind 
are previous to exportation, stripped from the pith, which 
^ then called Bok-shung. 
