APPENDIX. 15t 
According to Greshoff (Meded, wit. S’lands Plant., vii., p. 12) it has 
a powerfully poisonous action on fish, a decoction of the roots being 
fatal even when diluted with 300,000 parts of water. The only active 
constituent isolated is a resinous substance termed derrid, whic 
does not contain nitrogen, and is not a glucoside; it readily dissolves 
in alcohol, ether, chloroform, and amyl alcohol, but is very spar- 
ingly soluble in water and potash solution. On fusion with potash, 
it yields salicylic and protocatechuic acids. It occurs almost entirely 
in the cortex of the root, but has not yet been obtained pure. Its 
alcoholie solution has a slightly acid reaction, and*a sharp aromatic 
taste, causing a partial insensibility of the tongue, which remains 
for hours. A solution of 1 part in 5 millions is —— instantly 
fatal to fish. A very similar compound is found in the se of 
Pachyrhizus angulatus, Rich., a decoction of which is BES fatal in 
a dilution of 1:125,000, It ie probably identical with derrid, but 
until this has been experimentally proved it may be distinguished 
as Pachyrhizid, It is very readily prepared from Pachyrhizus, which 
occurs in all tropical countries, as the tannin compounds, usually so 
difficult to separate, are not found in this plant. The seeds also 
contain a non-poisonous, crystalline compound, which is readily 
soluble in alcohol, and has at 30° the consistence of butter. 
’ Sophora tomentosa, Linn, 
The plant formerly renowned as a medicine (“ Anticholerica Rum- 
phii” ) contains a poisonous alkaloid, soluble in ether, which is 
contained in largest quantity in the seeds. A small quantity of this 
substance, received by Professor Plugge as a thick red-brown fluid, 
when tested physiologically, gave results indicating the probability 
that it is identical with cytisine, the alkaloid of laburnum seeds, and 
this probability was strengthened by the results of such chemical 
and spectroscopical tests as were possible with the small quantity of 
material available (Archiv. d. Pharm., ccxxix.,561). Alkaloids have 
previously been found in S. speciosa and S. angustifolia, but have 
not been closely investigated. 
Abrin. 
P, Ehrlich (Deutsche Med. Wohenschrift, 1891, No. 14) com- 
pares the toxic properties of Abrin with those of Ricin. Injected 
hypodermically, he finds abrin (Merck’s) to be only half as poisonous 
as ricin; taken internally, it is still less active. 
