24 



niCTIONAKY (IF TIIK ACTIVE PRINCIPLES OF PLANTS 



bark {Asclepiadacecr) ; the root; used in India against lei)rosy ; an emetic. 

 Investigator : Duncan, /'/j/7. Mwj., 10, 4(16. 



MUDARIN B. ; amorphous, yellow, bitter. 



Soluble in alcohol and cold water, gelatinizing on warming. Insoluble 

 in ether and turpentine. 



§ 49. CALUMBA ROOT (Cocculus palmatus, or JateorhizaCalumba) ; 



MeiiisperiiiacKC ; E. Africa. For Bevhfr'me, which in contained in the (Irii;/, 

 see Berlieris group. 



CALUMBIN B. (Columbin), C.jiHooO, (discovered by Wittstock, see Fogg., 

 A vnal. 19, 2i8 ; further investigated by Paterno, Gazs. Chim.) ; neutral, 

 bitter ; crystallizes from acetic acid in prisms. 



Soluble with difficulty in water, alcohol, and ether (more easily in the 

 latter two fluids when warm) ; also in chloroform and glacial acetic acid. 

 It is removed from an acid solution when shaken with ether or chloro- 

 form, but not entirely by the last-named solvent. It is dis-solved by 

 alkaline hydrate solution ; acids reprecipitate. 



It is not precipitated by metallic salts, nor by tannin. 



Concentrated sulphuric acid dissolves with yellow to red coloration. 



CALUMBIC ACID B. (Columbic Acid), CjiHaaOs (Boedecker) ; pale yellow, 

 amorphous, bitter ; acid reaction. 



Soluble in alcohol, acetic acid, dilute alkalies, and lime-water ; soluble 

 with difficulty in ether, and scarcely in water. 



From its solution in alkalies it is precipitated by hydrochloric acid. 



From alcoholic solution it is thrown down as a yellow pp. by lead 

 acetate. 



§ 50. CALYCANTHUS glaucus {Calycanthacea) ; the kernels of the 

 seed ; 3 per cent 



CALYCANTHINE A. ; crystalline. 



Insoluble in water or alcohol, but dissolved by ether. In consequence 

 of the piesence of fat in the seeds, it is liable to be taken up by petroleum 

 ether. 



Concentrated sulphuric acid gives a pale yellow, becoming brick-red 

 with bichromate of potash, or purple to blue with sugar. 



Nitric acid produces a bright green. 



§ 61. [CANTHARIDES (Spanish Fly). Though not of vegetable 

 origin, this is mckided on account of the active principle contained in 

 it, viz. : 



CANTHARIDIN, 0,My.Oi (Homolka) ; of acid nature ; powerfully vesi- 

 cant ; sublimes at IKU', and volatile at lower temperatures in the vapours 

 of alcohol or water. 



Solubility in water very slight (common salt assists) ; soluble io 800 

 parts of alcohol (in which its salts are soluble with difficulty even warm), 

 in 81) parts of chloroform (the best solvent), 'JOO of ether, 500 of benzeoe, 

 2,000 of carbon bisulphide, and in amyl alcohol. It may be extracted 

 from an acid solution by shaking with amyl alcohol, chloroform, ether, or 

 benzene. 



Alkaline hydrates dissolve. 



Neutral lead acetate precipitates, white crystalline. 



Palladium chloride, yellow hairs. 



Silver nitrate, white crystalline. 



Copper and nickel sulphates, green crystalline precipitates isomorphous 

 with tbe palladium salt. 



Slercuric chloride, white crystalline. 



Alkaline permanganate, hydriodic acid, and sodium amalgam appear to 

 be without action. 



§ 6:i. CAPSICUM annuum (C. fastigiatum) ; So/auareie ; the fruits = 

 chillies or cajenne pepper when ground. Investigators : Buchheim, 

 Arch. Pathol., ls~2 ; Thresh, Ph. J. J runs., 187G ; Braconnot, Ann. 

 Chim. Phi/x. (:i), 6. 1, 124 ; and Fliickiger. 



'These may be conveniently taken to- 

 gether, as their properties in many 

 respects coincide ; in the following 

 statement, B. refers to Buchheim, T. to 

 Thresh. Be. to Braconu' t, and F. to 

 Fliickiger. Formula, C,,HnNO, (T., F.) ; 

 strong odour, burning taste, (Be.) ; M.P. 

 76= (T.), 58° (Be); volatile at 115° C, 

 decomposed at 120° (T.) ; crystalline (T., 

 F.) ; [reddish-brown liqaid (B.), soft 

 l^yellowish-brown, amorphous (Be.)]. 

 Soluble in alcohol and ether (B., Be, T.), benzene (T., Be), petroleum 

 ether (B., Be), with difficulty (T.) : amyl alcohol (T., Be); with diffi- 

 culty in water, easily in acetic ether and fi.xed oils ; not readily in turpen- 

 tine. It is dissolved by concentrated acetic acid, being precipitated 

 therefrom by water. 



CAPSICOL A. (of Buchheim) 

 CAPSAICIN {ot Thresh) 

 CAPSICIN (of Braconnot) 



