1 64        Recent  Literature  Relating  to  Pharmacy.  {AmMJarch,Srm' 
extremely  interesting  on  account  of  the  analogy  which  it  bears  to 
the  generally  accepted  theory  of  the  formation  of  sugars  in  plants. 
By  treating  the  oxime  of  dihydroxyacetone  (CH2OHC:N*OHCH2 
OH),which  can  be  prepared  by  the  action  of  formaldehyde  on  nitrome- 
thane,  with  bromine,  nitrous  oxide  is  given  off  and  dihydroxy 
acetone  remains  as  one  of  the  products.  This  compound 
(CH2OH-CO  CH2OH)  is  the  simplest  member  of  the  group  of  sugars 
known  as  ketoses,  and  heretofore  has  been  prepared  only  in  a 
more  or  less  impure  condition  by  the  oxidation  of  glycerin.  The 
pure  substance  possesses  the  well-known  characteristics  of  the  sug- 
ars, and  with  phenylhydrazine  forms  an  osazone.  By  reduction  it 
is  converted  into  glycerin,  and  thus  the  last  step  in  a  new  synthesis 
of  the  latter  compound  is  effected.  By  many  writers  formaldehyde 
is  thought  to  be  one  of  the  first  products  formed  in  plants  by  the 
assimilation  of  carbon  dioxide,  and  that  the  sugars  are  ultimately 
built  up  through  its  condensation. 
BUTTER  AND    TALLOW  TREE   OF   SIERRA   LEONE  (PENTADESMA  BUTYR- 
ACEA,  DON). 
Kew  Bulletin,  in  a  recent  issue,  published  some  interesting  infor- 
mation relating  to  an  investigation  into  the  probable  value  of  the 
seeds  of  this  tree  as  a  source  of  oil.  But,  owing  to  the  depressed 
condition  of  the  market  for  oil-seeds,  the  result  is  not  very  promis- 
ing. The  tree  is  described  as  follows :  This  noble  tree  of  West 
Africa  is  a  member  of  the  Gamboge  order  (Guttiferae).  It  extends 
from  Sierra  Leone  southward  to  the  mouths  of  the  Niger,  and 
beyond  to  the  equator.  It  sometimes  attains  a  height  of  70  feet ; 
the  large  glossy  leaves  are  from  5  to  10  inches  long,  the  flowers  are 
abundant,  very  handsome,  and  succeeded  by  a  large,  lemon-shaped 
brown  berry,  6  inches  long  and  4  to  5  inches  in  diameter,  with  one 
or  two,  or  sometimes  numerous,  seeds.  The  plant  was  described 
by  Sabine  in  the  Transactions  of  the  Horticultural  Society  (Vol.  V, 
1824,  p.  457)  as  the  "  Butter  and  Tallow  tree."  It  has  recently  been 
figured  in  Hooker's  hones  Plantarum,  pi.  2465  (1896),  with  a  descrip- 
tion by  Professor  Oliver.  It  is  known  in  Sierra  Leone  as  the  "  Ka- 
moot "  tree.  Prof.  E.  Heckel,  in  his  monograph,  Les  Kolas  Afri- 
cains,  refers  to  it  as  the  "Kanya"  tree, and  the  oil  or  butter  yielded 
by  the  seeds  as  beurre  de  Kanya. 
It  is  also  said  that  the  oil  is  highly  esteemed  by  the  natives  of  the 
