“HEXAMETHYLENETETRAMINE"

Evening Star, Issue 22142, 24 September 1935, Page 2

“HEXAMETHYLENETETRAMINE"

Writing in ‘The P.L.A. Monthly’ for August, Mr A. Holmdahl, B.Sc., mentions some of the queer words to be found in the Port, of London Authority’s Rato Book.

“ Perusal of the Port Authority’s Rate Books has a similar attraction for the inquisitive mind, but, unlike a dictionary, these give no final satisfaction. A whole range of novel and littleknown commodities is presented and acts_ as a stimulus to the imagination. Curiosity is aroused, but never satisfied by this comprehensive list of such an array of the products of Nature. “ Where does ylang-ylang come from and what are its uses? How many of the innumerable t varieties ,of roots, leaves, and seeds are recognised by tho average man? Yet this is no catalogue of abstruse botanical specimens, but a list of more or less common commodities. Lychees, chow-chow, festoko, dulcine, divi-divi: no sentence in Chinese, this; just a choice among the entries in the Rate Book. “ I am informed that Dulcine is a white saccharine substance some two hundred times sweeter than sugar; that Carbon tetrachloride is extensively used as a solvent in the rubber, fats, and oils industries; and that Hexamethylenetetramine is employed medicinally for the treatment of rheumatism. Festoko appears to be something of a mystery.”