404 LEGUMINOS 4. 
tated by potassium-bismuth iodide and sulphuric acid. The — 
bases were only completely precipitated after some weeks, and 
‘ were then converted into the mercuric iodide compounds to — 
separate albuminous matter. This was done by decomposing — 
the bismuth compound with soda and adding mercuric iodide, — 
when choline was precipitated and trigonelline remained in the ~ 
mother liquor, from which it was precipitated as oily drops 
(afterwards solidifying) by means of sulphuric acid —0°00 — 
per cent. of choline and 0°13 per cent. of trigonelline were — 
obtained. The author examined the gold and platinum salts of 
choline. Trigonelline, C7 H’ NO2+H? 0, crystallises from 
alcohol in colourless prisms, which possess a weak saline taste. a 
It is hygroscopic and easily soluble in water, but is insoluble in — 
ether, chloroform, and benzol. The solutions are neutral. It — 
gives precipitates with the usual alkaloidal reagents. Analyses 
of the free base, the hydrochlorate and the platinum and two — | 
gold double salts were made. a 
Trigonelline is isomeric and probably identical with pyri- 2 
dine-betain, prepared by Von Gerichten by heating pyridine” 3 
. 
| 
with monochloracetic acid, the only difference being that — 
pyridine-betiin hydrochlorate is coloured blue by sodium 3 
amalgam, and trigonelline yellow. By heating trigonelline = 
with concentrated caustic potash, a distillate is obtained which — 
appears to contain pyridine. (Journ. Soc. Chem. Ind., Journ. — 
de Phar. et de Chim., 1886.) 
Commerce.—Fenugreek seeds are grown extensively in the — 
‘higher inland provinces of India. From Karachi alone the ~ 
imports into Bombay are about 14,000 cwts. annually. 
Value.—Rs. 43 to 50 per candy. 
TRIGONELLA UNCATA, Boiss. 
Hab.—Persia. The pods. 
Vernacular.—Iklil-el-malik (Arab., Ind.). j 
History, Uses, &c.—The small crescent-shaped ate : : 
_ which are imported into Bombay from the Persian Gulf 
_ this name are considered by Arabian writers to be the Meli- 
