342 
Commercial  Tannin. 
Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
July, 1885. 
Balsamo  negro,  Balsam  of  Peru.  It  is  stated  that  Myrospermum 
Pereirse,  Royle,  grows  in  Panuco,  Huajicori,  Cuautla"  de  Morelos  and 
in  other  warm  sections  of  the  Republic  as  well  as  in  Central  America, 
and  that  the  fruit  and  bark  of  the  indigenous  tree  are  also  employed. 
The  fruit,  which  we  have  seen  in  1876  and  of  which  we  have  recently 
received  specimens  from  Prof.  Alfonso  Herrera,  resembles  that  of 
Toluifera  Balsamum,  Lin.,  as  figured  by  Bentley  and  Trimen,  and 
differs  in  shape  from  that  named  above ;  of  the  latter  we  have  speci- 
mens from  tlie  late  Prof.  Carson,  which  he  received  from  Dr.  Dorat, 
and  these  agree  with  Bentley  and  Trimen's  figure  of  the  same  species. 
It  is  known  that  Prof.  Baillon  considers  these  plants  as  one  variable 
species.  The  tree  does  not  appear  to  be  used  in  Mexico  for  the  pro- 
duction of  balsam. 
Balsamo  de  Tolii  (Tolu  balsam),  Bardana  (Burdock),  Bedelio  (bdel- 
lium), Beleiio  bianco  and  B.  negro  (hyoscyamus),  Belladona  (bella- 
donna), Benjui  (benzoin),  Bistorta  (bistort),  Bol  de  Armenia  (Armenian 
bole),  Brusco  (butcher's  broom),  Buchu,  and  Buglosa  (Anchusa  offici- 
nalis) are  enumerated  among  the  drugs. 
COMMERCIAL  TANNIN.^ 
By  T  Maben. 
It  has  frequently  been  the  subject  of  remark  that  the  tannin  of  com- 
merce varies  considerably  in  quality,  and  I  have  recently  examined  a 
number  of  samples  with  the  object  of  ascertaining  within  what  limits 
the  variation  may  be  said  to  extend.  Of  those  who  have  already 
drawn  attention  to  the  question  may  be  cited  Mr.  H.  R.  Proctor,  who 
states  that  "  the  tannin  met  with  in  commerce  contains  only  80  to  90 
per  cent,  of  really  pure  tannin  f  Mr.  A.  H.  Allen,  who  writes  in 
corroboration  of  this,  that  some  of  the  samples  he  examined  contained 
^'  30  to  40  per  cent,  of  inert  matter  as  indicated  by  the  lead  process  -/'^ 
and  Sutton,  who  says  that  "  commercial  tannin  often  contains  20  per 
cent,  of  impurities."^ 
My  aim  in  taking  up  the  subject  was  mainly  to  determine,  if  possible, 
1  Read  at  an  Evening  Meeting  of  the  "North  British  Branch  of  the 
Pharmaceutical  Society,"  April  8,  18S5. 
2  "  Pharm.  Journal,  [3],  vol.  vii,  p.  1020. 
3  Ibid,  p.  1057. 
*  "Volumetric  Analysis,"  4th  edition,  p.  279. 
