498 LI LI AC E^. 



bulk of the drug), fatty matter, yellow colouring matter, gum, 

 supermalates of Kme and potash, and chloride of potassium. 



W 



(Mi 



Bitter. Sweet 



Ether extract 1-31 -69 



Alcoholic extract -54 6-23 



Water extract 12-56 12-52 



Starch 65-00 65-90 



Cellulose 8-64 3-56 



Ash 



2-20 2-15 



Moisture 975 8-95 



The ether extract of the bitter Surinjan contained a resiu 

 giving a rose-red colour with sulphuric acid. The ether 

 extract of the sweet kind consisted of fat. Both druffs 



alkaloid 



usual reagents, and both contained an organic acid related to 



malic^ acid. A much larger quantity of Fehling reducing 



principle was present in the sweet than in the bitter drug, and 



this is shown in comparing the amounts of extract dissolved out 

 by alcohol. 



Commerce. —Bitter Hermodactyls are imported into India 

 from Kashmir. The sweet kind comes from Persia. Value, 

 Be. 1-4-0 per lb. 



Substitute for the Bitter EermodactyL— The sliced bulb of 

 Narcmns Tazetta (the true Narcissus), a plant which, when in 

 bloom, covers hke a white carpet great portions of the plains 

 of Behbeham and valley of Sha'b-bawan in Persia, is imported 

 into India as bitter Hermodactyl. 



It may be at once detected by its larger size and tunicated 

 structure. The taste is bitter and acrid, the substance amy- 

 laceous and very similar to that of the Hermodactyl. The 



starch 



It is used as 



an external application, and, according to the author of the 

 Makhzan, has properties very similiar to those of Sdrin- 

 jan-i-talkh. The several species of Narcissus (Gr. ra/j<to-o-oi) 



