PEPPER,  23 
i 
have  obtained  with  ammonia  a  crystalline  combination  analogous 
to  that  which  it  formed  with  orcine.  Pyrogallic  acid  forms  with 
quinine  a  compound  remarkable  for  its  indifference  to  crystalli- 
zation. Finally,  the  chloride  of  acetyle  reacts  on  it  by  disen- 
gaging hydrochloric  acid  and  in  forming  a  crystallized  product, 
which  contains  acetic  and  pyrogallic  acid,  the  composition  of 
which  we  expect  to  determine.  We  would  have  postponed  the 
publication  of  these  results  if  we  had  not  believed  it  our  duty 
to  make  known  the  new  method  of  preparing  pyrogallic  acid, 
which  is  the  principal  object  of  this  note. 
These  experiments  have  been  made  in  the  laboratory  of  the 
Faculty  of  Sciences  of  Paris. — Journ.  de  Pharm.,  Nov.,  1865. 
w.  P. 
PEPPER, 
By  John  R.  Jackson. 
Of  all  the  senses  with  which  we  are  endowed,  that  of  taste  is 
perhaps  the  most  fastidious ;  unlike  the  senses  of  sight  and 
hearing,  it  is  not  so  varied  or  widely  affected  by  the  force  of 
education.  To  hear  and  appreciate  the  eloquence  of  an  oration, 
needs  some  cultivated  refinement,  and  is,  in  consequence,  the 
belonging  of  a  class.  As  applied  to  the  sight,  the  same  may  be 
said  of  a  fine  picture  or  other  work  of  art ;  but  with  the  senses 
of  taste  and  smell,  the  case  is  different,  though  refinement  and 
education  undoubtedly  lend  a  helping  hand  to  the  full  apprecia- 
tion of  both.  With  the  former,  however,  the  likes  and  dislikes 
are  more  affected  by  nations  than  classes,  and  this,  in  a  great 
measure,  is  doubtless  to  be  attributed  to  the  diversity  of  the 
products  of  each  clime,  the  love  for  which  is  inherent  in  its  peo- 
ple. For  example,  where  can  an  Englishman  find  fare  so  well 
suited  to  his  palate  as  in  his  own  land  ?  And  a  similar  question 
may  be  asked  of  other  nations  ;  and  yet  there  are  countless 
productions  of  foreign  lands,  the  uses  of  which  have  not  become 
general  with  us  solely  through  prejudice ;  and  this  applies  not 
alone  to  articles  of  food,  but  also  to  materials  useful  in  the  arts 
and  manufactures.  It  needs  a  persevering  energy  to  bring  new 
products  into  the  English  markets,  and  it  needs  even  more  to 
persuade  the  British  public  to  give  a  lair  trial  to  such  products, 
