426 ASCLEPIADE^. 



vessels, containing the dry milk juice ^ as a brownish granular substance 

 not soluble in potash. 



The microscopic characters of the root-bark of C. gigantea agree 

 with those here detailed of G. procera. The stems of Calotropis 

 are distinguished by strong liber fibres, which are not met with in 

 the roots. 



Chemical Composition — By following the process of Duncan 

 above alluded to, 200 grammes of the powered bark of G. gigantea yielded 

 us nothing like his Mudarine, but 2*4 grammes of an acrid resin, 

 soluble in ether as well as in alcohol. The latter solution reddens 

 litmus ; the former on evaporation yields the resin as an almost colour- 

 less mass. If the aqueous liquid is separated from the crude resin, and 

 much absolute alcohol added, an abundant precipitate of mucilage is 

 obtained. The liquid now contains a bitter principle, which after due 

 concentration may be separated by means of tannic acid. 



We obtained similar results by exhausting the bark of G. procera 

 with dilute alcohol. The tannic compound of the bitter principle was 

 mixed with carbonate of lead, dried and boiled with spirit of wine. 

 This after evaporation furnished an amorphous, very bitter mass, not 

 soluble in water, but readily so in absolute alcohol. The solution is 

 not precipitated by an alcoholic solution of acetate of lead. By purify- 

 ing the bitter principle with chloroform or ether, it is at last obtained 

 colourless. This bitter matter is probably the active principle of 

 Galotropis ; we ascertained by means of the usual tests that no 

 alkaloid occurs in the drug. The large juicy stem, especially that of 

 C. gigantea, ought to be submitted to an accurate chemical and thera- 

 peutical examination.^ 



Uses — Mudar is an alterative, tonic and diaphoretic, — in large 

 doses emetic. By the natives of India, who employ it in venereal and 

 skin complaints, almost all parts of the plant are used. According to 

 Moodeen Sheriff,^ the bark of the root and the dried milky juice are 

 the most efficient; the latter is however somewhat irregular and unsafe 

 in its action. The same writer, remarks that he has found that the 

 older the plant, the more active is the bark in its effects. He recom- 

 mends that the corky outer coat, which is tasteless and inert, should be 

 scraped off" before the bark is powdered for use : of a powder so 

 prepared, 40 to 50 grains suffice as an emetic. 



The stems of C. gigantea afford a very valuable fibre which can be 

 spun into the finest thread for sewing or weaving.* 



^ It is evidently with a view to the reten- "List's Asclepione (Gmelin's Chemistry, 

 tion of this juice, that the Pharmacopoeia xvii. 368) might then be sought for. 

 of India orders the bark to be stripped ^ Supplement to the Pharmacopoeia of 

 from the roots when the latter are half- India, Madras, 1869. 364 ; for further in- 

 dried. Moodeen Sheriff remarks of C. formation on the therapeutic uses of mudar, 

 gigantea, that although it is frequently see also Pharm. of India, 458. 

 used in medicine, no part of it is sold in * Drury, Useful Plants of India, 2nd ed. 

 the bazaars, — no doubt from the circum- 1873. 101. 

 stance that the plant is everywhere found 

 wild and can be collected as required. 



