QUASSIA 



377 



cent of a bitter crystalline substance, quassiin. This really consists 

 of two crystalline bitter principles a-picrasmin and /3-picrasmin. 

 Jamaica Quassia also contains a crystalline alkaloidal principle 

 which gives a blue fluorescence in acidified alcoholic solution. 



Surinam quassia contains one or more bitter principles, which 

 are related to the picrasmins of Jamaica quassia, and which are 

 known as quassiins. 



Allied Drugs. The barks of Picrasma excelsa and Quassia amara 

 are used in medicine and probably contain similar principles to the 



9 hp 



FIG. 165. A, transverse section of Jamaica quassia. B, transverse section of 

 Surinam quassia; g, tracheae; /, wood fibers; hp, wood parenchyma; o, 

 cells containing calcium oxalate; n, medullary rays. After Meyer. 



wood. The Surinam bark occurs in thinner, light-colored pieces and 

 is sometimes admixed with the powdered drug. It is determined 

 by the large stone cells. The wood of Picrsena quassioides quite 

 closely resembles Jamaica Quassia in general appearance, micro- 

 scopical structure and chemical constituents. Bitter principles are 

 also found in other species of Picrasma and Quassia. An allied bitter 



