KAMALA. 575 



two brittle reddish yellow resins, of which the one is more easily soluble 

 and fuses at 80° C, and the other dissolves less readily and fuses at 

 191°. Both dissolve in alkaline solutions, and can be precipitated by 

 acids without apparent change. 



Anderson found that a concentrated ethereal solution of kamala 

 allowed to stand for a few days, solidified into a mass of granular 

 crystals, which by repeated solution and crystallization in ether were 

 obtained in a state of purity. This substance, named by Anderson 

 Rottlerin^ forms minute, platy, yellow crystals of a fine satiny lustre, 

 readily soluble in ether, sparingly in cold alcohol, more so in hot, and 

 insoluble in water. The mean of four analyses gave the composition of 

 rottlerin as C^^H^oQ'. 



We have been able to confirm the foregoing observations so far as 

 that we have obtained an abundance of minute acicular crystals, by 

 allowing an ethereal solution of kamala to evaporate spontaneously to 

 a syrupy state. But the purification of these crystals, which was also 

 attempted by our friend Mr. T. B. Groves,* was unsuccessful, for when 

 freed from the protecting mother-liquor, they underwent a change and 

 assumed an amorphous form. We have, on the other hand, succeeded 

 in isolating the crystals from the " Kamcdin," as sold by E. Merck of 

 Darmstadt. By fusing them with caustic potash we obtained paraoxy- 

 benzoic acid (see page 408). 



Uses — The drug is administered for the expulsion of tapeworm ; it 

 has also been used as an external application in herpes circmnatus. 

 In India it is employed for dyeing silk a rich orange-brown. 



Adulteration — Kamala is very liable to adulteration with earthy 

 substances, even to the extent of 60 per cent. This contamination may 

 easily be known by the grittiness of the drug, and by a portion of it 

 sinking when it is stirred up with water, but in the most decisive 

 manner by incineration. Sometimes kamala contains an undue pro- 

 portion of foreign vegetable matter, as remains of the capsules, leaves, 

 etc., which can partly be separated by a lawn sieve. We have met 

 with a large quantity of very impure Kamala in the London market 

 (1878), 'which was offered for cleaning polished metallic surfaces. 



Substitute — A very remarkable form of so-called kamala was 

 imported in 18G7 from Aden by Messrs. Allen and Hanburys, druggists, 

 of London.' It arrived neatly packed in oblong, white calico bags, of 

 three sizes, each inscribed with Arabic charactei-s, indicating with the 

 name of the vendor or collector, a native of Hurrur, the net weioht, 

 which was either 100, 50, or 25 Turkish ounces. No more than two 

 supplies, in all 136 lb., could be obtained. 



The drug was in coarser particles than kamala, of a deep 

 purple, and had a distinct odour resembling that which is produced 

 when a tincture of kamala is poured into water. It had been 

 carefully collected and was free from earthy admixture, yet it left upon 

 incineration 12 per cent, of ash. Under the microscope it presented 

 still gi-eater differences, the grains being cylindrical or subcouical, 170 

 to 200 mkm. long, by 70 to 100 mkm. broad, with oblong resin-cells, 



^ See Science Papers, 78. one of us in Pharm. Journ. ix. (1868) 279, 



* Yearbook of Pharmacy, 1872. 599. with wood-cuts. 



* It has been particularly described by 



