S90 ORCHIDEM, 



History, Uses, &c.— This plant is the Jivantr of San- 

 skrit writers. In the Kighantas it bears the synonyms of Jivani, 

 Jiva "life-giving," Jivaniyd "supj^ortiug life," Jiva-sreshtha, 

 Saka-sreshtha "hest of herbs," and Yasas-vini "renowned." 

 It IS also spoken of as Jiva-bhadra and Mangalya "auspicious,'' 



m 



hidosha-ghna, i.e., a remedy for the disorder of the three humors 



em, known to Hind 



as tridosha. The whole plant is used in decoction along with 

 other drugs supposed to have similar properties ; it must not be 



tifounded 



modern Hindus. D. Mi 



to have been noticed by any of the European writers upon 

 Indian Materia Medica. 



Description. — A much-branched plant, often found on 



terns 



nu 



terminating pseudo-bulb, four to eight inches long, sessile ,- 

 flowers white, side lobes of lip sprinkled with red, solitary at 

 the base of the leaf, one in front and one behind ; middle lobe 

 of the lip much dilated, and the disk with two louf^itudinal 

 fleshy crests. This plant has from its coloration been well 

 named pa rdali Hum or panther-like by Eeichberg.. 



Chemical composition.— The alcoholic extract of the dried roots 

 and stems was mixed with water acidulated with sulphuric acid 

 and agitated with petroleum ether, ether, and then rendered 

 alkaline and reagitated with ether. The petroleum ether 



extract 



nd 



soft consistence. In cold absolute alcohol the greater part 



with 



and had the characters of a wax. During agitation with 

 petroleum ether, chocolate flocks separated. 



The acid ether extract formed a waxy, transparent red 

 yarmsh, which repelled water, and was insoluble in it. In 

 absolute alcohol the extract dissolved with strong acid reaction. 

 I he extract was treated with caustic soda and agitated with 



