230 WRANTHACE^. 



at ordinary temperatures> and capable of being drawn out into 

 long threads; fluid at 100^, like oil of almonds; sp. gr. 1. 

 It produces a greasy stain on paper, is nearly inodorous and 

 tasteless^ and bas an acid reaction. Formula C^'^H* 0^ . 

 Viscaoutcbin remains behind, together with woody fibre^ after 

 the extraction of viscin by ether as above, and is taken up by oil 

 of turpentine. After distilling off the turpentine, the yellowish 

 mass is dissolved in ether, in which it has now become soluble; 

 the ethereal solution is evaporated, and the residue is washed 

 with alcohol and water, and dried at 120°, At ordinary 

 temperatures it ia viscid, and resembles vegetable wax ; at 1^0 

 it is of the consistence of olive oil. It is very elastic, and 

 may be drawn out into long threads; sp. gr. 0*978. It is 

 tasteless, of faint odour and neutral reaction. Formula 

 04og370^ {Gmelin, xvii,, p. 352.) 



Viscum et Loranthus, sp, var. In the Pharma€op(^i(^ 

 or India, the leaves of a Yiscura, doubtfully referred to 

 V. monaieum (Kuchila ke molung), growing on Nux Vomica 

 trees in the neighbourhood of Cuttack, are stated to possess 

 poisonous properties similar to those of the tree on which the 

 plant grows. The subject was investigated in 1837 by Sir W. 

 O'Shaughnessy, who is said to have detected in the powdered 

 leaves the presence of strychnine and brucine : and the leaves 

 were for a time used by Dr. Duncan Stewart and others as a 

 substitute for Nux Vomica, A case of what is stated to 

 have been fatal poisoning by the leaves is mentioned by 

 Norman Chevers in his work on Indian Medical fhms2)rudence. 

 The symptoms were those of strjxhnia poisoning. In lot>J- 

 Mr. Leon Souberain {Pharm. Journ., p. 568) published an 

 account of a poisonous species of Loranthus found on the 

 Nilgiris, growing on Nux Vomica trees, and known to 

 natives as Poiilmtrivi, 



the 



lied 



In Pudukota, a decoction of a species of Loranthus call 

 Pillooroovi or Kooroonthoo, probably the same plant, is applied 

 to skin diseases to relieve itching. 



Under the name of Banddkpushj^, the flowers of Loranthm 

 hugijlonis, Desrouss., RhPiuJe, IFort. Ual, x., t 4, have been seat 



