12 Dr. Hancock on Haimarada. 



cumber, Momordica operculata of Linnaeus, which are the 

 bitterest of all known substances. 



No precipitate is formed with glue, nor with solutions of 

 nitre, muriates of soda and ammonia, or any of the neutral 

 salts, nor with the sulphuric, muriatic, or nitric acids, nor with 

 the subcarbonates of soda and potash ; none with the sulphates 

 of iron, zinc, copper, or with the muriates of iron and mercury; 

 nor with the tartarate of antimony, sulphate of quinine, chlorate 

 of potash, with iodine, nor with solutions of arsenic. Yet there 

 are certain substances which form precipitates with the infusion 

 of Haimarada. With nitrate of silver and nitro-muriate of 

 gold, a scanty and slow separation takes place ; with subcarbo- 

 nate of potass, a floculent deposite ; with acetate of lead, a co- 

 pious white ; and with nitrate of silver, a very abundant olive 

 precipitate is quickly formed ; with lime water, a yellow pow- 

 der falls abundantly, whilst the lime forms, on the surface, a 

 pellicle of a bright metallic lustre. 



These results seem to indicate, that Haimarada contains a 

 peculiar constituent, and appear to shew, that it is almost des- 

 titute of the proximate principles common to other plants ; 

 shewing scarcely any traces of starch, gluten, resin, gallic 

 acid, tannin, or extractive, 



Some of these precipitants of Haimarada probably throw 

 down a bitter principle ; for, by adding lime water to the infusion 

 till it ceases to act upon it, the infusion is deprived of its bitter- 

 ness, and perhaps also of its emetic property. It likewise loses its 

 bitterness with nitrate of mercury and acetate of lead ; whilst the 

 solution of both these metallic salts lose their peculiar metallic 

 taste. Their chemical affinities are subverted, and their pre- 

 cipitates are extremely bitter and nauseous.* 



For medical purposes, the entire plant is employed. It should 

 be pulled up by the root, dried, and preserved from moisture. 



I have not employed the Haimarada as a remedy in half the 



• It would be interesting to try the effects of this vcptto-mincral compound 

 as an alterant in certain chronic diseases, especially in cutaneous affections, le- 

 jra. &e. 



