APPENDIX. 1G5 



the extract prepared from garden lettuce when in flower is not more 

 than 0*02 per cent. Nevertheless, cases have been recorded in which 

 the immoderate consumption of lettuce has led to unpleasant and 

 even fatal results. Lettuce belongs to the natural order Compositic. 

 This is the first occasion on which hyoscyaminc has been found in 

 plants not belonging to the natural order Solanaccce. {Btj T. S. 

 Dymondj from the Research Laboratory of iho Pharmacculical 



of 



Tagetea erecta. 



The flowers contain a crystallizabic substance qucrcctagctinyhoMmg 

 the composition C'*^H®^0^^-f4H'0; it is the yellow colouring matter; 



its reactions in alcoholic solution are the same as those of qucrcctin, 

 but it differs from the latter in crystalline form and solubility in 



alcohol. {BitlL Soc. Chim. [27] xxviii., 337,) 



SauBSurea Lappa. 



Schimrael & Co* in their Eeport (April, 1892) state that Kusht 

 root yields one per cent, of a light yellow essential oil, which 

 possesses a sp. gr. of 0*982, and a rotatory power of + 15° 20' in a 

 tube of 100 mm. It begins to boil at 275°, and about one-half goes 

 over below 315° ; then complete decomposition takes place, producing 

 a very disagreeably -sm elling vapour. When treated with soda, a part 

 of the oil combines with it, and can be separated by acids. The root 

 has a violet odour, but it does not seem to yield an odorous oil of that 

 perfume. Messrs. Schimmel state that the odour of the oil resembles 

 at first that of elecampane. After the volatilization of this odour, 

 in about 24 hours, the violet odour develops, but not sufficiently 

 strong to indicate that the oil could be of practical use. 



Mr. McDonell, Conservator of Forests in Kashmir, reports that 

 the plant grows as high as 9,000 to 10,000 feet. TJie dried root 

 sells at Rs. 25 per maund. It is collected by villagers and paid 

 for at Tehsils. The chief purchaser is a Bombay Chinaman. 



CAMPANULACEiE. 



Lobeline. 



The only active principle of Lobelia inflata has recently been investi- 

 gated by Dr. H. Dresser. 



Warm-blooded animals poisoned by means of lobeline succumb to 

 respiratory paralysis, so it is to be included among the respiratory 



