~ 
Meo ‘MENISPERMA CEE, 
trated sulphuric acid and bichromate of potassium, it somewh 
the name picrotoxin was oe melts at 201° C., and has the 
Ni 
i 
Ohemical composttion.—The pericarp is said to be emetiogt 
and to contain two crystallizable tasteless substances, meni- 3 
spermine and paramenispermine, but this is doubtful, and — 
requires confirmation. Picrotoxin, a erystalline substance, w 
discovered in the seed by Boullay in 1812; it is the poisono 
principle, and is soluble in water and alkalis. Fliickiger a 
Hanbury give the following summary of - its’ properties: 
“ Picrétoxin does not neutralize acids, it dissolves in water 
and in alkalies; the solution in the latter reduces cupric Oxi 
hike the sugars, but to a mich smaller extent than gluco 
The alkaline solution is not precipitated by chloride of ammo- 
resembles strychnine as shown in 1867 by Kohler. Picrotox 
melts at 200° C.; its composition OC? H+ ° 04, as ascertained 
1877 by Paberss and Oglialoro, is the same as cia of ever 
ninic, hydrocoffeic, umbellic and veratric acids.” Bie 
eographia, p, 32) 
By fractional distillation from Benzol, Barth and Kretse 
(1880) separated picrotoxin into three bodies. .One, for wh 
‘composition C'S H** O° + H? O. The second, picrotin, C7 
HH’? 0", has similar properties, but melts at at 250° C., is le 
freely soluble in benzol, and is not poisonous, The third com: 
pound, anamirtin, C*’ H** O°, remains in the mother liquo 
on re-crystallizing pricrotoxin from water ; it is but slightly | 
bitter, is not poisonous, and its alkaline solutions do not reduce — 
metallic salts. Warnecke has obtained from the fruit 5°20_ 
per cent. of ash. 
Toxicology. _This drug is ‘occasionally insed in Madras ‘il 
Bombay as a cattle poison. During the last ten Baise fou 
eases have been aie In Bombay one case has’ 
