Chemical composition.—According to Wittstein (1840), 
- bitter acrid resin and 24:4 per cent. of tannin, consisting of 
-cinally active principle, and has been variously called brayerin, 
> by. Pavesi’s process, it was found to be an efficient tenifuges 
 Kousso is repeatedly treated with alcohol to which slaked lime 
has been added ; the residue is boiled with water, the different 
resin-like and on drying yellowish or at a higher temperature 
leather, a persistent bitter and acrid taste, and is of a distinct 
crystalline appearance when viewed under the microscope. Dr. 
E. Merck has subsequently further purified it, probably by 
combines with alkalies and oxide 
found this pure kosin to be very i 
action. . = : : 
| By distillation with water, kousso yields t = 
‘and acetic acids and a little solid volatile dil haying the odour 
.- 
Maiseh.) 
i ad 
ey 
2 
- Ks % g 
ce 
 ROSADRAE OO ae 
kousso contains as principal constituents 6°25 per cent. of a. 
_ two kinds; he also’ obtained. 15°71 per cent. of ash and some > 
- tasteless resin, besides the common constituents, chlorophyll, | 
4 wax, sugar, and gum. « The acrid resin appears to be the medi- | 
 kwosein, koussin, and.kosin, As prepared by Dr. C. Bedall (1872). 
~ koussin as a white flocculent precipitate, hecoming denser, and 
brown; in larger quantities it has a peculiar odour of Russian _ 
races of valerianic ~ 
” 
erystallizing it from boiling alcohol. Filtuckiger and B. Bary 2 
(1874) describe it ds forming yellow rhombic crystals, which | 
f the drug and without.any tenifuge properties. (Seillé : and 
