CUCURBITACE. 67 
residue was: obtained, in which prisms were detected on micro- 
scopic: examination. Generally the reactions afforded by this 
_ bitter principle -agreed with those usually ascribed to colocyn- 
thin. It failed, however, to-yield any dark green greasy, precipi 
_ tate with boiting aqueous hydrochloric acid, as is mentioned in 
_ Muir and Morley’s edition of Watts’ Chemical Dictionary. We 
4 further tested a sample of colocinthin, which had beewobtained 
from Dr. Schuchardt of Gorlitz, for this reaction, but with 
4 negative results. Regarding the- production of this dark 
a green greasy precipitate ; on boiling colocynthin with concen- 
trated aqueous hydrochloric acid, the first effect of heat was the 
rmation of a clear reddish yellow solution; on continued 
ullition the liquid became darker and turbid, and on the 
rface a dirty white scum appeared,. wholly destitute of «any 
en tinge, and on diluting with water, the scum.became of a 
ht reddish dirty tint. 
_ The dried fruit with a few seeds lost 12°22 per cent. whad 
heated to 100°C. The-ash amounted to 9°74-per cent. 
LAGENARIA VULGARIS, Seringe. 
a Fig.—Rheede Hort. Mal. viii, t. 53 a Tis t: 106. 
_ The bottle gourd (Hng.). 
Hab.—Cultivated throughout India. The fruit. 
Vernacular.—Tumba, Belaschora-tumbi, Karwa-tumba 
ind.), Tikta-lau (Beng.), Karu-bhopala, Bhopala ( poid 
orakai (Tam.), Anapa-kai (Zed.), Gara-dudi (Mal.), 
History, Uses, &c.—The shell of this - g 
dried is much used in the — : 
