76 BIXINEJE. 



known as Lukraho and used in a variety of cutaneous complaints. 

 The tree affording it, which is figured in the Pmi-tasao {circa A.D. 

 1596) has not been recognised by botanists, but from the structure of 

 .the seed it is obviously closely related to Gynocardia} 



The properties of G. odorata were known to Roxburgh who, 

 Latinizing the Indian name of the tree, called it (1814) Chaidmoogra 

 odorata. Of late years the seeds have attracted the notice of Euro- 

 peans in India, and having been found useful in certain skin diseases, 

 they have been admitted a place in the Pharmacopoeia of India. 



Description — The seeds, 1 to l^ inches long and about half as 

 much in diameter, are of irregular ovoid form, and more or less angular 

 or flattened by mutual pressure ; they weigh on an average about 35 

 grains each. The testa is thin (about -^^ of an inch), brittle, smooth, 

 dull grey ; within there is a brown oily kernel, marked with a darker 

 colour at its basal end. The weight of the kernel is, on an average, 

 twice that of the testa. The former encloses in its copious, soft 

 albumen a pair of large, plain, leafy, heart-shaped cotyledons with a 

 stout radicle. The taste of the kernel is simply oily. 



Microscopic Structure — The testa is chiefly formed of cylindrical 

 thick-walled cells. The albumen exhibits large angular cells containing 

 fatty oil, masses of albuminous matter and tufted crystals of calcium 

 oxalate. Starch is not present. 



Chemical Composition — The kernels afforded us by means of 

 ether 51 '5 per cent, of fatty oil, which is almost colourless or some- 

 what brownish if the seeds are not fresh. Either extracted or 

 expressed it is of no peculiar taste. The pressed oil concretes at 17° C; 

 that extracted by ether or bisulphate of carbon requires for solidifica- 

 tion a lower temperature. The expressed oil is slightly fluorescent, 

 less so that extracted by means of bisulphide of carbon. If the oil, 

 either pressed or extracted, is diluted with the bisulphide, and then 

 concentrated sulphuric or nitric acid is added, no peculiar coloration is 

 produced. 



From the powdered kernels deprived of oil, water removes the 

 usual constituents, glucose, mucilage and albumin. 



Uses — The seeds are said to have been advantageously used as an 

 alternative tonic in scrofula, skin diseases and rheumatism. They 

 should be freed from the testa, powdered, and given in the dose of 6 

 grains gradually increased. Reduced to a paste and mixed with 

 Simple Ointment, they constitute the Unguenturti GynocardAw of the 

 Indian Pharmacopoeia, which, as well as an expressed oil of the 

 seeds may be employed externally in herpes, tinea, &c.^ 



Substitute — It has been suggested that the seeds of Hydnocarpus 

 Wightiana Bl., a tree of Western India, and of H. venenata Gartn., 

 native of Ceylon, might be tried where those of Gynocardia are not 

 procurable. The seeds of both species of Hydnocarpus (formerly con- 



^ Hanbury, Notes on Chinese Mat. Med. stronger testa than those of that tree. — 



(1862) 23.— Science Papers, 244. "Dr. D.H. 



Porter Smith assumes the Chinese drug 2 For particulars see Christy's pamphlet 



to be derived from O. odorata, but as I alluded to above, p. 75. 

 have pointed out, the seeds have a much 



