III. On the resin of ficus rubiginosa, and a new homologue of benzylic alcohol

Among the interesting collection of natural products contributed to the Paris Universal Exhibition of 1855 by the British Colonies, was a gum presenting some remarkable qualities. This substance was stated by the exhibitor to be a new species of gutta percha, in consequence of its becoming plastic when masticated, and on this account it attracted considerable attention. It had been contributed by Dr. Stephenson, of Manning River, N. S. W., who had obtained it from a species of Ficus , known as F. rubiginosa . The zealous Commissioner for New South Wales, Mr. (now Sir William) M c Arthur, brought this gum under our notice with the view of obtaining some information respecting its chemical properties. A few preliminary experiments, which were made in Paris, at once showed us that this substance had very little in common with gutta percha, and, moreover, its chemical properties were found to be entirely different from those of that gum. Although our experiments did not allow us to hold out hopes to Mr. M c Arthur of the gum becoming a valuable article of exportation from the colony, they offered some inducement to us to make a more rigorous investigation of it on purely scientific grounds. On communicating this view to Mr. M c Arthur, he liberally placed at our disposal the remainder of the specimen exhibited.