^"'  jin^ris'y^'"''}     Arhutin  in  Kalmia  Latifolia,  Lin.  5 
of  oily  consistence  (quinotannic  acid).  The  mass  is  washed  with  ether, 
the  residue  being  quinic  acid,  very  deliquescent. 
The  ether  solution  is  evaporated,  leaving  in  residue  the  quinotannic 
acid,  uncrystallizable. 
University  of  Michigan ^  July  ist,  1874. 
ARBUTIN  IN  KALMIA  LATIFOLIA,  LIN. 
'  BY  GEORGE  W.   KENNEDY,  PH.  G. 
The  order  Ericaceae  embraces  chiefly  shrubs  with  the  leaves  mostly 
alternate,  the  flowers  quite  regular,  and  the  fruit  a  berry  or  capsule.  It 
is  one  of  our  most  interesting  orders,  including  many  plants  of  medic- 
inal properties  and  a  multitude  that  are  exceedingly  handsome,  especially 
the  azaleas,  rhododendrons,  kalmias,  and  many  species  of  the  multitu- 
dinous genus  Erica,  which  is  the  type  of  the  family.  The  rhododen- 
drons growing  on  the  Himalaya  Mountains  are  among  the  most  splendid 
of  ornamental  trees  and  shrubs.  Jrbutin^  has  been  found  in  the  sub- 
orders Pyroleae  and  Ericineae  ;  and  plants  belonging  to  the  sub-order 
Vaccineae  contain  kinic  acid.  To  determine  the  principles  in  other 
hitherto  unexamined  species  of  this  order,  the  writer  has  made  an 
examination  of  Kalmia  latifolia. 
The  genus  takes  its  name  in  honor  of  Peter  Kalm,  a  distinguished 
Swedish  botanist.  The  species,  latifolia^  or  broad-leafed  Kalmia^  is  known 
by  the  names  of  calico  bush,  mountain  laurel,  and  spoonwood,  the  latter 
name  being  given  because  the  Indians  made  spoons  from  the  wood.  It 
is  an  evergreen,  and  is  found  abundantly  from  Maine  to  Ohio  and 
Kentucky,  growing  on  hillsides  and  mountains,  preferring  damp  soil  j 
the  leaves  are  mostly  alternate,  bright  green  on  both  sides,  ovate- 
lanceolate  or  elliptical,  tapering  to  each  end,  and  tenaceous.  It  grows 
from  four  to  twenty  feet  high,  its  growth  being  influenced  by  the 
locality  ;  on  level  grounds  and  small  hills  it  is  scarcely  ever  found 
above  ten  feet  high,  whereas  in  mountainous  regions  it  grows  as  high 
as  twenty  feet,  presenting  a  tree-like  appearance  ;  where  the  writer 
resides  it  grows  from  six  to  twenty  feet,  and  is  scarcely  ever  found 
smaller  than  six. 
The  process  adopted  for  the  extraction  of  arbutin  was  that  of 
Kawalier,  and  was  conducted  in  the  following  manner  :  Three  pounds 
*  See  American  Journal  of  Pharmacy,  1874,  P^g^  3^4- 
