EDITORIAL. 
571 
also  to  be  found  in  the  case  of  one  English  exhibitor.  Its  history  dates  from 
1839,  when  it  was  discovered  by  Blanc,  of  Rio  Janeiro,*  in  the  bark  called  in 
Brazil  Pao  Pereira,  and  valued  in  that  country  as  an  excellent  febrifuge  and 
tonic.  This  bark,  the  origin  of  which  has  long  remained  uncertain,  has 
recently  been  ascertained  by  Dr.  Allemao,  of  Rio  Janeiro,  to  be  derived  from 
Geissospermum  Vellossii,  Allem.,  a  tree  of  the  order  Apocynacece.  Pereirine  is 
obtained  by  exhausting  the  pereira-bark  with  acidulated  water,  and  treating 
the  concentrated  liquor  with  ammonia,  which  throws  down  the  impure  alka- 
loid. This  may  be  rendered  pure  by  re-solution  in  an  acid,  treatment  with 
charcoal,  and  precipitation  by  ammonia.  It  then  constitutes  a  pale-brown, 
pulverulent  substance,  which  has  not  hitherto  been  obtained  either  colorless 
or  in  crystals.  It  is  soluble  in  alcohol  or  ether,  restores  the  blue  of  reddened 
litmus,  unites  with  diluted  acids  to  form  neutral  salts,  which  are  mostly 
soluble  in  water  or  alcohol,  but  which,  like  the  base,  have  only  been  obtained 
in  an  amorphous  condition.  An  aqueous  solution  of  a  salt  of  pereirine  is 
colored  deep  crimson  by  strong  nitric  acid ;  a  reaction  which  takes  place  even 
when  the  solution  is  dilute.  We  are  not  aware  of  any  ultimate  analysis  of 
this  alkaloid  having  been  made. 
g.  Vegetable  acids. —  Tartaric  and  citric  acids  are  so  well  and  extensively 
represented  in  all  parts  of  the  Exhibition,  that  we  may  be  excused  from  men- 
tioning the  samples  of  any  particular  manufacturer. 
Of  Racemic  acid,  a  specimen  by  Wagenmann  of  Vienna  is  shown  in  the 
Austrian  Court. 
Valerianic  acid,  in  three  forms — anhydrous,  monohydrated  and  trihydra- 
ted— is  contributed  by  Dr.  Marquart  of  Bonn,  who  likewise  sends  fine  succinic 
and  malic  acids,  both  colorless  and  pure. 
Gallic  and  tannic  acids  are  freely  exhibited.  One  specimen,  that  of  gallic 
acid  shown  by  Messrs.  Dunn,  Heathfield  and  Co.  of  London,  is  remarkably 
beautiful  for  its  crystallization. 
Caincic  acid,  extracted  from  cainca  root  (Radix  Chiococcce  anguifugce, 
Mart.,)  is  among  the  rare  products  shown  by  Mr.  Merck.  ♦ 
h.  Unmanufactured  Drugs  of  Vegetable  Origin. — In  the  British  section  of  the 
Exhibition  there  is  a  numerous  collection  of  these  products  exhibited  by  vari- 
ous contributors,  chiefly  under  the  auspices  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  of 
Great  Britain.  The  samples  are  mostly  very  fine ;  some  of  them  in  fact 
almost  too  good,  as  they  represent  exceptional  rather  than  usual  forms  of  the 
drugs  they  illustrate. 
The  British  colonies,  including  India,  contribute  large  collections  of  vege- 
table Materia  Medica  which  will  repay  careful  study.  The  colonial  posses- 
sions of  France  are  also  well  represented,  the  suites  of  specimens  from  each 
being  admirably  arranged  and  clearly  catalogued  upon  one  general  plan. 
We  also  find  contributions  of  raw  drugs  from  the  South  American  Republics, 
Brazil,  the  United  States,  West  Africa,  Turkey,  China,  Japan,  and  the  Phi- 
lippines. 
As  it  would  unduly  extend  the  present  Report  were  we  to  attempt  a  de- 
tailed account  of  these  numerous  collections,  we  shall  restrict  ourselves  to 
name  a  few  of  the  more  important,  and  also  to  mention  in  addition  a  few 
drugs  which  claim  notice  on  the  ground  of  recent  introduction  to  European 
medical  practice. 
North  American  drugs  are  illustrated  by  a  very  excellent  and  numerous 
collection  contributed  by  the  Philadelphia  College  of  Pharmacy.  There  are 
also  numerous  well-preserved  specimens  forwarded  by  Mr.  William  Saunders 
of  London,  Canada,  and  by  Mr.  Giroux  of  Quebec. 
To  H.  E.  Faik  Pasha  of  Constantinople,  the  Exhibition  is  indebted  for  a 
very  extensive  series  of  specimens  of  raw  products,  alimentary,  medicinal, 
*  Berzelius,  <«  Jahresbericht  iiber  d.  Fortschritte  d.  Chemie  et  Mineralogie,"  23 
1844),  p.  372. 
