ed to be in a somewhat doubtful state. This is probably due to the fact that many different drugs have appeared in commerce under that name. Kino contains in its natural condition an oxidizing enzyme or oxidase which is the cause of the gelatinization which takes place in preparations of this drug. This enzyme can be destroyed by heat and advantage is taken of this fact in making Tinctura Kino (which see). In an examination made by David Hooper of ten varieties of East Indian kino, the proportion of tannic acid was found, after thoroughly drying the kino, to vary from 80 to 97 per cent. of the whole mass. (Agricultural Ledger of India, No. 11, 1901.)
It is said that catechu, broken into small fragments, has sometimes been sold as kino. Genuine kino is sometimes substituted by the extract of krameria. The latter is more brittle and dissolves, more quickly in water.
2. WEST INDIA OR JAMAICA KINO.—This is believed to be the product of the Coccoloba uvifera L., or sea-side grape. It grows in the West Indies and neighboring parts of the continent. The kino is said to be obtained by evaporating a decoction of the wood and bark, which are very astringent.
Although it has been many years since any large quantity appeared in our markets, it may occasionally be met. It is contained in large gourds, into which it was evidently poured while in a liquid or semi-liquid state, and then allowed to harden. When taken from the gourd it breaks into fragments of various sizes, upon an average about as large as a hazelnut, and having some tendency to the rectangular form. The consistence of these fragments is uniform, their surface smooth and shining, and their color a dark reddish-brown approaching to black. They are, however, neither so glistening nor so black as the East India kino. In mass they are quite opaque, but in thin splinters are translucent and of a ruby redness. They are readily broken by the fingers into smaller fragments, are easily pulverized, and yield a dull-reddish powder, considerably lighter colored than that of the East Indian variety. The West India kino is without odor, and has a very astringent, bitterish taste, with a scarcely observable sweetish after-taste. It adheres to the teeth when chewed, although rather less than the East Indian variety, and colors the saliva red. The solubility of Jamaica kino was very carefully examined by Robert Bridges, who found that cold water dissolved 89 per cent., and alcohol 94 per cent. The portion dissolved by alcohol and not by water was probably of a resinous nature, as it appeared to be viscid, and very much impeded the filtration of the aqueous solution. Considering the nature of this substance, the form of kino in which it was found is probably, like that from the East Indies, an inspissated juice. Guibourt, who states that Jamaica kino is but slightly dissolved by cold water, must have operated on a different product.
3. SOUTH AMERICAN KINO. Caraccas Kino.—In 1839, an astringent extract was described which had been introduced into our market, derived from Caraccas, and known by that name to the druggists. It is probably the same as that described by Guibourt, in the last edition of his History of Drugs, as the kino of Colombia. As imported, this variety of kino is in large masses, some weighing several pounds, covered with thin leaves, or exhibiting marks of leaves upon their unbroken surface, externally very dark, and internally of a deep reddish-brown or dark port-wine color. Some of the masses are very impure, containing pieces of bark, wood, leaves, etc.; others are more homogeneous, and almost free from impurities. The masses are broken up by means of a mill so as to resemble East India kino, from which, however, this variety differs in being more irregular, less sharply angular, more powdery, and less black. In appearance, taste, odor and other sensible properties this kino closely resembles the West India variety. It is not improbable that they are derived from the same plant, and there is no difficulty in supposing that this may be the Coccoloba uvifera, as that tr