212 LEGUMINOS^. 



tioners in the East, and have been included in the Pharmacopoeia of 

 India, 1868. 



Description — The seeds are somewhat globular or ovoid, a little 

 compressed, yV to -^-^ of an inch in diameter and weighing 20 to 40 

 grains. Thej'' are of a bluish or greenish grey tint, smooth, yet marked 

 by slightly elevated horizontal lines of a darker hue. The umbilicus 

 is surrounded by a small, dark brovrn, semilunar blotch opposite the 

 micropyle. The hard shell is from Jy to -^^ of an inch thick, and 

 contains a white kernel, representing from 40 to 50 per cent, of the 

 weight of the seed. It separates easily from the shell, and consists of 

 the two cotyledons and a stout radicle. When a seed is soaked for 

 some hours in cold water, a very thin layer can be peeled from the sur- 

 face of the testa. The kernel is bitter, but with the taste that is 

 common to most seeds of the family LeguminoscB. 



Microscopic Structure — The outer layer of the testa, the 

 epidermis above alluded to, is composed of two zones of perpendicular, 

 closely packed cells, the outer measuring about 130 mkm., the inner 

 100 mkm. in length and only 5 to 7 mkm. in diameter. The walls of 

 these cylindrical cells are thickened by secondary deposits, which in 

 transverse section show usually four or more channels running down 

 nearly perpendicularly through the whole cell. 



The spongy parenchyme, which is covered by this very distinct 

 outer layer, is made up of irregular, ovate, subglobular or somewhat 

 elongated cells with large spaces between them, loaded with brown 

 masses of tannic matter, assuming a blackish hue when touched with 

 perchloride of iron. The thick walls of these cells frequently exhibit, 

 chiefly in the inner layers, undulated outlines. The tissue of the coty- 

 ledons is composed of very large cells, swelling considerably in water, 

 and containing some mucilage (as may be ascertained when thin slices 

 are examined in oil), small starch granules, fatty oil, and a little albumi- 

 nous matter. 



Chemical Composition — According to the medical reports alluded 

 to in the Pharmacopoeia of India (1868), Bonduc seeds, and still more 

 the root of the plant, act as a powerful antiperiodic and tonic. 



The active principle has not yet been adequately examined. It may 

 perhaps occur in larger proportion in the bark of the root, which is said 

 to be more efficacious than the seeds in the treatment of intermittent 

 fever.^ 



In order to ascertain the chemical nature of the principle of the 

 seeds, one ounce of the kernels^ was powdered and exhausted with 

 slightly acidulated alcohol. The solution after the evaporation of the 

 alcohol was made alkaline with caustic potash, which did not pro- 

 duce a precipitate. Ether now shaken with the liquid, completely 

 removed the bitter matter, and yielded it in the form of an amor 

 phous white powder, devoid of alkaline properties. It is sparingly 

 soluble in water, but readily in alcohol, forming intensely bitter 

 solutions ; an aqueous solution is not precipitated by tannic acid. It 

 ])roduces a yellowish or brownish solution with concentrated sulphuric 



^ Waring, Bazaar Medicines, Travancore, - Kindly furnished us Ly Dr. Waring. 



1860. 18. 



