C52H82O23

c52h82o23, a bitter glucoside, _argyraescin_, c27h42o12, _aescinic acid_, c24h40o12, and _queraescitrin_, c41h46o25, found also in the leaves. to prepare pure starch from the seeds, flandin (_compt. rend._ xxvii. 391, 1848; xxviii. 138, 1849) recommends kneading them, when peeled and bruised, in an aqueous solution of 1/100 to 1/60 of their weight of sodium carbonate. e. staffel (_ann. d. chem. u. pharm._ lxxvi., 1850, p. 379) after drying found, in spring and autumn respectively, 10.9 and 3.38% of ash in the wood, 8.68 and 6.57 in the bark, and 7.68 and 7.52 in the leaves of the horse-chestnut. the ash of the unripe fruit contains 58.77, that of the ripe kernel 61.74, and that of the green shell 75.91% of potash (e. wolff). the wood of the horse-chestnut is soft, and serves only for the making of water-pipes, for turner's work and common carpentry, as a source of charcoal for gunpowder, and as fuel. newly cut it weighs 60 lb, and dry 35 lb. per cub. ft. approximately. the bark has been employed for dyeing yellow and for tanning, and was formerly in popular repute as a febrifuge and tonic. the powder of the dried nuts was at one time prescribed as a sternutatory (to encourage sneezing) in the edinburgh _pharmacopoeia_. it is stated to form with alum-water a size or cement highly offensive to vermin, and with two parts of wheaten flour the material for a strong bookbinder's paste. infusion of horse-chestnuts is found to expel worms from soil, and soon to kill them if they are left in it. the nuts furthermore have been applied to the manufacture of an oil for burning, cosmetic preparations and starch, and in switzerland, france and ireland, when rasped on ground, to the bleaching of flax, hemp, silk and wool. in geneva horse-chestnuts are largely consumed by grazing stock, a single sheep receiving 2 lb. crushed morning and evening. given to cows in moderate quantity, they have been found to enhance both the yield and flavour of milk. deer readily eat them, and, after a preliminary steeping in lime-water, pigs also. for poultry they should be used boiled, and mixed with other nourishment. the fallen leaves are relished by sheep and deer, and afford a good litter for flocks and herds. one variety of the horse-chestnut has variegated leaves, and another double flowers. darwin observed that _ae. pavia_, the red buckeye of north america, shows a special tendency, under unfavourable conditions, to be double-blossomed. the seeds of this species are used to stupefy fish. the scarlet-flowered horse-chestnut, _ae. rubicunda_, is a handsome tree, less in height and having a rounder head than the common form; it is a native of north america. another species, possessing flowers with the lower petals white with a red tinge, and the upper yellow and red with a white border, and fruit unarmed, is _ae. indica_, a native of the western himalayas. among the north american species are the foetid or ohio buckeye, _ae. glabra_, and _ae. flava_, the sweet buckeye. _ae. californica_, when full-grown and in flower, is a beautiful tree, but its leaves often fall before midsummer. (2) the spanish or sweet chestnut, _castanea sativa_ (natural order, fagaceae), is a stately and magnificent tree, native of the countries bordering on the mediterranean, but also ripening its fruit in sheltered situations as far north as scotland. it lives very long, and attains a large size, spreading its branches widely. it has large glossy lanceolate leaves with a toothed margin. the flowers, which appear in early summer, are in pendulous, slender yellowish catkins, which bear a number of staminate flowers with a few pistillate flowers at the base. the staminate contain 8 to 20 stamens which produce an enormous amount of dusty yellow pollen, some of which gets carried by wind to the protruding stigmas of the pistillate flowers. the latter are borne three together, invested by a cupule of four green bracts, which, as the fruit matures, grow to form the tough green prickly envelope surrounding the group of generally three nuts. the largest known chestnut tree is the famous _castagno di cento cavalli_, or the chestnut of a hundred horses, on the slopes of mount etna, a tree which, when measured about 1780 by count borch, was found to have a circumference of 190 ft. the timber bears a striking resemblance to that of the oak, which has been mistaken for chestnut; but it may be distinguished by the numerous fine medullary rays. unlike oak, the wood is more valuable while young than old. when not more than fifty years old it forms durable posts for fences and gates; but at that age it often begins to deteriorate, having ring-shakes and central hollows. in a young state, when the stems are not above 2 in. in diameter at the ground, the chestnut is found to make durable hoops for casks and props for vines; and of a larger size it makes good hop-poles. chestnuts (the fruit of the tree) are extensively imported into great britain, and are eaten roasted or boiled, and mashed or otherwise as a vegetable. in a raw state they have a sweet taste, but are difficult of digestion. the trees are very abundant in the south of europe, and chestnuts bulk largely in the food resources of the poor in spain, italy, switzerland and germany. in italy the kernels are ground into meal, and used for thickening soups, and even for bread-making. in north america the fruits of an allied species, _c. americana_, are eaten both raw and cooked.