354 SA POTACER. 
Salts of embelic acid with soda, potash and ammonia were pre- 
pared. The ammonia salt was the one most readily obtained 
crystalline. When an alcoholic solution of embelic acid was 
mixed with strong ammonia in excess, and the deep red 
resulting liquid allowed to evaporate spontaneously, the salt 
crystallized in large needle-shaped crystals of a foxy red hue. 
The ammonium salt. was found to be effective as an anthel- 
mintic for tenia in doses of 3 grains for children and 6 grains 
or more for adults. It would appear to act in cases in which 
the ordinary teniacides fail. The best method of administra- 
tion is to give the salt with a little honey or simple syrup, the 
drug being preceded and followed by castor oil. The ammo- 
nium salt of embelic acid possesses one very important advan- 
tage over the liquid extract of male fern—it is tasteless—and 
may thus prove a useful addition to our materia medica. 
Lascelles Scott has found in the fruit a minute quantity of 
volatile oil with a spicy flavour, a fixed oil, colouring matters, a 
resinoid body, an alkaloid of a yellowish white colour, which 
he has named Christembine, and a tannin. The dried fruitas ~ 
sold in the Calcutta bazars is generally mixed with pepper 
corns, and the volatile oil mentioned by Scott may be due to 
this admixture. 
Commerce.—The fruit of E. robusta is collected and sold 
under the same name as that of £. Ribes. Moodeen Sheriff 
has observed two varieties of the drug offered for sale in 
Madras. The drug has lately been exported to Germany to 
some extent. Value, Rs. 24 per mauud of 374 Ibs. 
SAPOTACEA: 
BASSIA LATIFOLIA, Rosb. 
Fig.—Rozb. Cor. Pl., t.19; Bedd. Pl. Sylv., t. 41. : 
' Hab,—Central India, W. Bengal to Western Ghéte, 
Kumaon, Terai. _ ei - ait sige” Doe Siac ne eect vm 
