230 RUBIACER. 
fresh drug. We also obtained evidenee of the presence of at 
least two alkaloids; one was soluble in ether and was deposit 
second alkaloidal principle was only slightly soluble in amy 
alcohol, chloroform or benzene; we failed to obtain it ina 
crystalline form. No special colour reactions were obtained 
with either principle. We propose provisionally for the 
principles the names @ and 8 Pederine. 
SPERMACOCE HISPIDA, Linn. 
Fig.—Rheede Hort. Mal. ix. t. 76; Burm. Thes. Zeylan. 
20, f. 3. Shaggy Button weed (Hng.). 
Hab.—Throughout India. The roots. 
Vernacular.—Madana-ghettu (Tel.), Nutti-churi (Ta 
Ghanti-chi-baji, Dhoti, Gondi (Mar.), Thardavel (Mole 
ana-buntakadu (Beng.). 
History, Uses, &c.—In Southern India the Sans 
the plant. The seeds are thought to be aphrodisiac, 
plant is prescribed to cure hemorrhoids. Kirkpatrick 
_ the seeds are cooling and demulcent, and are given in dy 
tery in doses of one pagoda. Rheede says of it: 7 
expressus cum butyro decoctus lienteria prodest.” Ait si1¢ 
States that it is used as an alterative and purifier of the blo 
like sarsaparilla, and is prescribed in decoction, the dose 
_which is four ounces or more daily. In the Concan itis € 
along with other herbs as a vegetable. According to Béla 
it is used as a tonic and stimulant in Martinique. 
Description. —A procumbent, scabrous, or hirsute 
root fibrous, annual or perennial ; leaves obovate spath 
oblong or elliptic, obtuse or acute, coriaceous, 3—1} by $ 
in. ; flowers 4 to 6 in a whorl, blue or white ; capsules” 
tess ainibtacued; ; Seeds oblong, granulate, opaque. In 
forms of ~~ plant the leaves have Sarkiligiied oi 
