72 OUCURBITACEZE. 
at first, a yellow solution passing to orange red and purple. 
Frohde’s reagent colours it first orange, then reddish brown, 
and finally greenish brown. The bitter principle resembles te 
some extent colecynthin, and the name “ trichosanthin”’ is pro: 
posed for it. The frnits when being burnt, and when decomp S- 
ing in moist situations, give off large quantities of ammonia, — 
The green pulp in the interior of the fruit in which the seeds _ 
are embedded, contains a colouring matter which has more © 
usual green colouring matter of plants. Prof. Michie &mitl 
(Proc, Roy. Soc. Edin. 1890), comparing the absorption spectre 
of this colouring matter with chlorophyll, finds in the fort 
two very dark bands, one in the red extending from near G 
about half way between C and D, the other in the yellow : 
the more refrangible side of D. ‘There are two other faint 
bands, one on each side of BE. The action of hydrochloric a 
and ammonium sulphide upon the colouring matter alters 
spectrum in a characteristic manner that i disti 
guishes it from chlorophyll. a 
Toaicology.—Roxburgh informs us that the fruit is reckon ed 
poisonous. ‘The Madras Chemical Examiner (1888) reported: 
“4 woman who is said to have eaten the seeds (fruit ?) of t 
plant with suicidal intent, suffered from vomiting, purging, a 
griping, and died collapsed. No alkaloid was found in t 
viscera, and a portion of the fruit was found non-poisono 
with a guinea-pig.” 
TRICHOSANTHES DIOICA, Roxb. 
Hab.—Throughout the plain of North India, Guzerat t 
Assam, Bengal. 
TRICHOSANTHES CUCUMERINA, Lin 
Fig. —Itheede Hort. Mal. viii., t. 15. Sabino Pb) 
pert (Dutch). 
« Hab,.—Thronghout India ed Ouse: Tho plant in 
