DIVISION I. 



Class 3. D. 



NARCOTICS. 



N. O. 6. MENISPERMACEJE. MENISPERMADS. 

 Anamirta Coculus. W. et A. 



Linn. Syst. Dioecia Monadelphia. 



The berry, Cocculus Indicus, Cocques du Levant, Bacca Orientalis. 



Vernacular. Kakamari, Sans. KaJcmari, Hind. Dec. Bacaen-ka- 

 phal, Calcutta. Jermce, Hind. Guz. Kaka-collei-verei, Tarn. 

 Kakichimpoo-vetteloo, Tel. Pola t Kaandaka-conuveh, Garala- 

 phala, Mai. Tuba-bidji, Malaya. 



Habitat. Concan, Malabar, Eastern Archipelago. 



Remarks. First noticed by Plukenet. This berry is added to malt 

 liquors to increase their intoxicating effect. Its "action is due to the 



Eresence of a crystalline principle called picrotoxine. It is said to be 

 irgely employed by the liquor retailers of Bombay. In the Gurhwal 

 mountains an ardent spirit is distilled from the root of Cissampelos 

 obtecta, and in Arabia from the berries of Coculus Cebatha, both plants 

 being Menispermads. The Arabian spirit is called Kumr-ool-majnoon. 

 The fruit of a species of Ptelea, Xanthoxylaceae, has been similarly 

 employed, and as a substitute for Hops, the catkin of Humulus Lupu- 

 lus, Urticacese. Also the following, Rhamnus pauciflorus, and R. Staddo, 

 N. 0. 70, in Abyssinia ; Achillea Millefolium, N. O. 120, Ledum latifo* 

 Hum, L. palustre, Ericaceae, and Myrica Gale, Myricacse, in Sweden ; 

 and Salvia Sclarea, Labiatse, and Crocus sativus, Iridacese, in England. 

 The fungus Amanita muscaria steeped in the juice of V actinium uliginosum 

 N. O. 128, is used as an intoxicant in Kamschatka. When takefa, it 

 communicates its properties to the urine, which when drank acts even 

 more powerfully than the fungus itself, and thus a small fungus is made to 

 propagate its effects indefinitely ; a providential arrangement which the 

 Kamschatkans well appreciate in seasons of scarcity. 

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