THE BORAGE TRIBE.

881

|he fry', ,.

*» b u | 6S ^ le potatoe, &c. Otto has discovered solanina in the potatoe, especiallyl [> aris e / ' a l" ac t which explains the cause of the ill effects which have been observedr °T? t * le use germinated potatoes by cattle ( Pharrn. Central-Blatt fur 1834,I" IU| ho(i() ^y cn ar >d Persoz (Thomson, Orff. Chem. p. 666) found diastase in the neigh-‘t'm s 0 > ?' the bud of the potatoe. Potatoe starch (English Arrow-Root, offic. Amy-^"hablJ 11 tu b er osi) consists of particles of varied shapes and sizes; the normal form is'^pieter ° V .p e ' Their size varies from one-six hundredth to one-thirtieth of a line in' v hich )/■ ^ 'ey are characterized by concentric riugs observed on their surface, andthese g. r , r ! tzc h e (op. cit.) regards as indications of concentric layers, of which he assertsPres^ a . ln ? to be composed. The particles of the feculaof Canna coccinea (see p. 680)^teiygj lrtll ar rings. Potatoe Sago is made of potatoe starch, near Paris . I have^isseg Some from Professor Guibourt, and find that it consists of whitish spheroidal•Won.* p nie 'vhat larger than those of pearl sago (see p. 614), of which it is an imi-10 h'c latt° tat<>e starc h has been analyzed by Berzelius and Guerin-Vary. According,J f »iatt e ^ de Pharm. t. xxii. p. 210), one hundred parts consist of 242 parts

Nv;,:. ln r ,lu bl e ' n water (tegumentary amylin), of 38T3 of soluble amidin, and 59 750 f - the amidin consists of C 1 * H 10 08; the amylin of C 10 H 5 O 6 . The quan-?**son; arc h obtained from potatoes varies with the kind used, as well as with the

lbs' ;° n ® hundred pounds of potatoes yield in August about 10 lbs, in September

p»y 1 q iV tfetober 14| lbs, in November 17 lbs, in March 17 lbs, in April 13J lbs, inpaid ( n s (Oecandolle, Phys. Viy. p. 181). By fermentation potatoes yield a vinous*j*on tfij 3 atoe wine) of good quality (Loudon’s Encycl. of Agricul. p. 853). By distil—01 (oil 0 f ' le hts potatoe spirit (Donovan, in Lardner’s Cycloped.), from which a volatileC ° ,ls 'xt$ P°t a toes) has been extracted (Pelletan ,Joum. de Chim. Mid. t. i. p. 76). It

;>Ubr mli "- to umas (Journ. de Chim. Mid. x. 705), of C 5 H® O. An

jy sined from the stalks and leaves of potatoes, was declared by Dr. J. Lathamth e . v °h i. p. 92) to possess narcotic properties, in doses of two or three grains ;e Peated C ? ses sdduced are not satisfactory. Furthermore, his experiments were."suits; f b ^ h)r. Worsham (United States Dispensatory) with very different0v ' , ev e ’ r ,° r h)0 grs. produced no sensible effects. The observations of Nauehe,i. re a Val e ?i to Con fi rm Latham’s statements. The tubers (potatoes), when boiled,are riot J <5 ai ^cle of food, both for men and animals. Those of good qua-8 “? faiy .. onl y perfectly innocuous, but highly nutritious, and easy of digestion. In, a,, l to 4 0 they have been found less nutritive for auimals, while on man they areprove I»V„: - j j: -—-i ...-,u„ fNauche,

1 ill two

^° Ur ’ ! - de 0 r>i^ axat ' ve aM, l diuretic, and to excite, slightly, the nervous system (Nauh** s ; bv “ W ' md - l - vii - P- 373 )- Tll e P' •ocess of cooking* is probably useful in iwu,* ai ter. \- reiK ' ei 'in- the starch digestible, and, secondly, by extracting some noxious"hies. ^ j U ri'e (Ibid.) found the decoction of potatoes endowed with medicinal pro-Pi'aisp | ^ tto > as already mentioned, detected solanina in them. Potatoes have''Up si- ( as useful antiscorbutics (Julia-Fontenelle, Ibid. t. ii. p. 129).ira rates'c " .

n

a J>r dp e Z"‘ J ru tes'cens, Linn, yields the capsules sold by druggists as Guinea pepper,s f hcl e (vj if er . capsici), as I have satisfied myself by comparing the commercialc U | 8 rio „ * 1 le l' as t Indian Solanacea; belonging to the Linnean Society . These cap-to ° Ur iso 1 excee d an inch in length, and are about two or three lines broad: their- diosg of a . fl rl c . re( l > their odour aromatic and pungent. Their properties are similarJ'l’ilff ; s phillies (see p. 877), than which they are much hotter and more fiery. Theira es senc a P e!Kne Pepper, so extensively employed as a condiment. Cayenne lozengese °f cayenne (an alcoholic tincture) are kept in the shops.

°*«h 36. Boragina'ce.e, Lindley .— The Borage Tribe.

Boragineje, Jussieu .

are harmless, and, for the most part, inert. Their prevail-he e ( a Uc/hj Cbt ls . m ucilage. Nitre is also found in some species. The colouring prin-b[ ,lce is en/T °i Anchn'sa tincto'ria, or Alkanet, dissolves in fatty substances, and0I > to colour unguents and oils (as lip salve and hair oil). It becomes

addition of an alkali?