SI 6  Chian  Turpentine.  {  ^"'kir^rso^'^"- 
so  far  as  it  is  possible  to  judge  from  the  species  found  in  them,  but  with 
this  difference,  that  in  the  quadrangular^  form  Glo'iopeltis  seemed  to  be 
the  chief  ingredient,  while  in  the  slender  sticks  Gelidium  corneum  was 
most  abundant.  This,  however,  may  not  be  the  case  in  all  samples. 
It  seems  probable  that  the  Japanese  and  Chinese  search  their  coasts 
for  such  algae  as  furnish  mucilaginous  substances,  and  having  collected 
them,  do  not  trouble  themselves  to  remove  the  parasites  which  are 
attached  to  them,  or  less  gelatinous  species  which  are  entangled  with 
them,  and  thus  the  quality  of  different  specimens  varies  considerably. 
If  the  gathering  consists  almost  entirely  of  Gelidium,^  Gloiopeltis  and 
Endocladia^  the  transparency,  whiteness  and  purity  are  very  noticeable. 
The  name  of  Japanese  isinglass,  inasmuch  as  isinglass  (ichthyocolla) 
means  fish  glue,  is  objectionable,  and  should  not  be  retained.  The 
name  Agar-agar,  which  has  by  some  writers  been  proposed  for  it,  has 
no  better  claim,  since  it  is  applied  to  various  algae  which  are  not  known 
to  enter  into  the  composition  of  this  substance. 
According  to  Mertens  Preussische  Exped.  nach  Ost  Asien,  Die 
Tange,"  1866,  p.  140),  the  following  species  are  employed  in  the  East 
Indies,  under  the  name  of  agar-agar:  Eucheuma  spinosum^  J.  Ag., 
Sphcerococcus  serra^  KUtz.,  S  gelatinus^  Ag.,  Gigartina  horrida^  Harv.,  and 
at  Timor,  Hypnea  divar'icata^  Grev. 
The  term  gelose  is  also  objectionable,  on  account  of  being  applied 
to  a  definite  chemical  substance. 
The  name  phycocolle  or  seawead  glue  would  be  preferable,  unless 
the  name  tjintiow  or  lo-tha-ho  be  preserved. — Pharm.  your,  and  Trans  ^ 
Aug.  14,  1880. 
CHIAN  TURPENTINE. 
By  William  Martindale. 
Since  I  published  some  notes  on  the  above  drug  ("Pharm.  Jour."  [3], 
vol.  X,  p.  854) — which  still  is  much  in  request,  and  until  lately  not  to  be 
had  in  the  market,  although  some  of  the  genuine  article  is  now  offered 
at  a  high  price — I  have  received  the  following  account  of  it,  and  the 
probable  supply  this  season,  from  M.  D.  Spadavo,  French  Consul  at 
Chio.  The  account  tallies  pretty  well  with  that  which  I  published 
before,  and  the  supply,  although  not  large  this  year,  could,  if  required, 
be  much  increased. 
I  am  happy  to  give  you  the  information  you  require  relating  to 
Chian  turpentine.     This  drug  has  not  been  collected  in  our  island  for 
