92 CUCURBITACE. 
Bryony root, and we have been able to confirm this by finding 4 
in the decomposition products two resinoid bodies differing in” 
their solubility in ether. Bryonin is a glucoside resolved by 
boiling with dilute sulphuric acid into glucose and two amo 
phous bodies, bryoretin, soluble in ether, and hydrobryore 
insoluble in ether but soluble in alcohul 
C48 H84 O21 — O21 H35 07 + O21 37 OF + CS 
Bryonin Bryoretin Hydrobryoretin Glucose. 
‘We have been unable to find a second bitter principle in th 
tubers, for on washing the lead precipitate of the extract unti 
free from bryonin, and treating the lead compound with hy 
drogen sulphide, the solution was free from bitterness, and 
evaporated residue was not coloured by sulphuric acid. 4h 
tubers contained much starch, a little resin, and 10 per cent 
of white saline ash. ‘ 
BRYONIA LACINIOSA, Zinn. 
Fig.— Wight Ic., t. 500 ; Rheede Hort. Mal. viii, 19. 
Hab.—From the Himalaya to Ceylon, Pegu. The pla 
Vernacular.—Bajguriya, Ghargu-néru (Hind.), Kavya 
Kavale-che-dole (Mar.), Nehoemeka (Mal.), Lingatondi (Can} 
History, Uses, &c.—This plant appears to be the B 
of Sanskrit writers, and is-said to have been used in Ve 
times to frighten away evil spirits; it is still known in Hi 
as Bajguriya or “ Baja beads.” It is also probably one of 
plants included by the name Ghantéli (see Mukia scabr 
Rheede (viii. 19) calls it Nehoemeka, and says that the Po: 
guese call it Nhola, and the Dutch Slitten. The vernacula 
name Ghargu-ndéru signifies a string of ankle bells, such @ 
are worn by dancing girls. These bells have vertical slits i 
them, resembling the white vertical lines on the fruit of 
Bryony. The juice of B. laciniosa is given with milk, ho 
or sugar in bilious attacks, and in the commenceme! 
fevers when there is flatulence and constipation; it 
