APPENDIX, 177 
digitalis. He considers an infusion of thé fruit to be preferable to 
all other preparations: the infusion may be preserved from deteriora- 
tion by the addition of a little glycerine or spirit. Dr. von Ocfele 
considers that a maximum dose ef } of a gram of the raw drug or its 
equivalent in sclution should not be exceeded in the 24 hours. 
(Nouveaux Remédes, Jan. 24, 1892.) 
Hunteria corymbosa, Roxb., Wight Ic., tt, 428, 1294; Beda, 
For, Fl. ii., t. 268, 
The bark of this tree, a native of the Deccan Peninsula, Coro- 
mandel Coast, Tavoy, Penang, and Ceylon, has been shown by 
Greshoff (Meded. uit Slands Plant., vii., p. 55) to contain 0°3 per 
cent, of a crystalline alkaloid, which also forms erystalline salts, and 
gives a beautiful violet coloration with Erdmann’s and Frohde’s 
reagents. It is a strong poison, and hasa sharp, burning taste, even 
when diluted to 1: 10,000, 
Vinca pusilla. 
This plant is called Mulakapundu in Tamil,and the ryots of South 
Areot say that if cattle graze upon it they beeome giddy and 
die. We have chemically examined this plant, and find that the 
poisonous property is due to an alkaloid named Vixcine, which is 
distinguished by giving a carmine-red colour with pure nitrie acid. 
ASCLEPIADEZ. 
Gymnema sylvestre. 
In doses of 0°3 to 04 gram, gymnemie acid acts as an emetic. In 
much smaller doses it is stated to be very effective for distinguishing 
the taste of bitter drugs. For this purpose a 3 per cent. aqueous 
solution containing a small addition of eras is used for rinsing the 
mouth immediately before taking the medicin 
The acid is obtained by moistening the ae plant with a 
solution of caustic soda, allowing the moist mass to stand in a per- 
eolator for two days, and then extracting with benzin. After 
removing the benzin from the percolate by distillation, the residue 
thus left is repeatedly washed with ona and dried. The pro- 
duct forms a brownish erystalline powder, which is soluble in 100 
parts of water, freely soluble in he and insoluble in ether and 
chloroform. It is decomposed by acids. (A. Quirint, Pharm, me 
Tee 
