:. | MAGNOLIACED. : 39 
the “pea Lacie forms cdlourless friable crystals, which 
4 are neutral, inodorous, and when fused exceedingly acrid ; it is 
soluble in chloroform, but nearly insoluble in ether and water. 
Formula C'% A'* O8,. (Fehling.) _ Anemonic acid C'S H'™ 07 
_is'a white-crystalline very insoluble powder, which dissolves 
alkalis with a yellow colour. 
Some species of Delphinium contain the aikaleite delphinine | 
e C72H > NO®, and staphisagriue C22 H5% NO5, the former 
very closely resembles aconitine in its physiological action and _ 
_ is antidotal to muscarine and digitalin ; the latter paralyses- 
4 the motor nerves like curare. -Both of the alkaloids are 
3 soluble in alcohol, but delphinine may be separated from 
 staphisagrine by” means of ether in oe er latter is 
insoluble. : 
7 
MAGNOLIACER. ~ 
ILLICIUM VERUM, Hook. f 
Fig. Mike: ie é. 7005. Star-anise tree (Eng.), Ba- “ 
 dianier (Fr.). ee 
* Hab.—Cochin- China. The fat. 
 -Vernacular.—B&dién-i-khatai (Pers.), Anasphal (Hind. 
Anna shuppu (Tam.), Badian (Bomb.), Anasa-puvyu (Tel.). 
History , Uses, &c.—It would appear that star-anise has 
long been in use in China and Japan, but was not known in 
India until a comparatively .recent date. Persian works on 
_ Materia Medica, written about one hundred yearsago, speak of — 
itasa new medicine. - The authors of the Pharmacographia trace _ 
ts introduction into Europe as far back as.1588; in those days _ 
t came by way of Russia, and was known as Cardamomum Sibe- 
_riense. Mr. J.G. Scott, ina paper read before the Royal G 
3 age Society, eo tine cai ues the piomec 
