78 CUCURBITACEZ, 
and exposed to a temperature of 100° C., in the course of an 
hour the oil assumed a translucent white appearance, and could — 
be scraped off the glass as a white powder which, when boiled — 
with petroleum ether, yielded only a trace of soluble matter, 
consisting of oil. Exposed to the air without being heated, i 4 
24 hours a thin layer presented numberless little white cauli- 
flower like masses, while a portion of the oil assumed an arbo: 
escent pattern on the glass. After saponification of the oi 
and decomposition of the soap, the separated fatty acids had 
melting point of 48°—49° ©. 
In addition to oil, a very slightly bitter glucoside was pr 
sent, which afforded no special colour reactions with reagents. 
MOMORDICA CHARANTIA, Linn. 
Fig.—Bot. Mag., t. 2455; Wight Ic.,t. 504; Bot. Reg 
é. 980. | 
Hab.—tThroughout India. The fruit. 
Vernacular.—Karela (Hind.), Kéralé (Mar.), Pava-kai, P: 
vakkapchedi (Tam.), Kakara-chettu (Tel.), Karala (Beng.). 
Muricated var., Uchchhe (Beng.), Hagala (Can.). 
Description, Uses, &c.—There aretwo chief varietie 
differing in the form of the fruit, the one being longer aD 
. more oblong, and the other smaller, more ovate, muricated 
tubercled. There are besides many intermediate gradations. 
The fruit is bitter but wholesome, and is eaten by the nativ 
It requires, however, to be steeped in salt water before be 
cooked ; the smaller variety is most esteemed. (Drury.) Fi 
Rheede, Wight and Gibson we learn that the Hindus use 
whole plant combined with cinnamon, long pepper, rice a0 
the oil of Hydnocarpus Wightiana, as an external appl 
tion in scabies and other cutaneous diseases. The fruit 
leaves are administered as an anthelmintic, and are app. 
externally in leprosy. One-eighth of a seer of the juice of 
leaves is given in bilious affections, as an emetic and purgati 
alone or combined with aromatics ; the juice is rubbed in, 
