RANUNCULACE, 29 
_@ Karikal. These de Paris, 1881,) the results of clinical investi- 
gations undertaken in the hospital at Karikal with black 
_ cummin seed. He has observed that after doses of 10 to 40 
grams of the powdered seed the temperature of the body is 
raised, the pulse accelerated, and all the secretions stimulated, . 
_dysmenorrhcea, and in larger doses cause abortion. 
| Description.—The seed is triangular, the umbilical end 
being smaller than the other, black, $th of an inch long, testa 
_ rough ; inside the testa is a white oily kernel. When rubbed, 
the seed diffuses a pleasant odour of lemons, with a shght 
 soupgon of carrot. 
_ Chemical composition —The sce of Nigella sativa Laon 
_ been analysed by H. G. Greenish (Phar. Jour. (3) X., 909 and | 
13), with the following results:—One hundred parts of the 
ds contain: Moisture 7°43, Ash 4:14, Fixed oil 37:00, 
Volatile oil 1-64, Albumen (sol. in water) 8°22, Mucilage 1°90, 
Organic acids ppt. by Cu. 0°38, ditto by Pb. 0°59, Sugar 
(Glucose) 2:75, Arabic acid (?) 3°21; Undetermined substance 
1:79, Albumen (sol: in soda) 2°14, Metarabin 1°36, other 
substances dissolved by soda 5°38, Melanthin 1:41, Traces of 
oil, &c., removed by Alcohol 0°53, dissolved by Chlorine water 
and Salphario Acid 3°85, removed by Chlorate of Potash 
_ and Nitric Acid 7°52, Cellulose 8-32—total 99°56. Melanthin 
_ bears a close analogy to helleborin; like saponin, it possesses 
_ considerable emulsifying powers. Greenish has also obtained 
_melanthin from all the aerial parts of N. sativa, but found it 
_ absent in the roots at all periods of their growth. 
_  Commerce.—The Indian market is supplied from Northern 
India, Basara, and Cabul. Price 2 annas per lb. 
PAZONIA OFFICINALIS, Linn.. 
3 Fig.—Bot. Mag.. 4 1784: Officinal Peony ig yi or 
_ officinal (Fr.).  - 
