183 OPHELIA CHIRATA 



manner. A transverse section of the stem exhibits a thin woody 

 ring, enclosing a large continuous easily separable pith, which is 

 yellowish in colour. The whole plant is intensely bitter, but has 

 no odour. 



The analysis of Hohn shows that Chiretta contains two bitter 

 principles, which he has named Ophelic acid and Chiratin ; and 

 also a tasteless, yellow, crystalline substance, which he obtained 

 in too small a quantity for a thorough investigation. 



Substitutes. In the Indian bazaars several other plants are known 

 by the name of Chiretta or Chirayta, besides the true drug, and 

 possess to a greater or less degree its bitter tonic properties. Thus, 

 Ophelia angustifolia, Don, 0. elegans, Wight, 0. densifolia, Griseb., 

 and 0. multiflora, Dalzell ; Exacum tetragonum, Eoxb., E. bicolor, 

 Koxb., and E. pedimculatum, Linn. ; and Slevogtia orientalis, 

 Griseb., all of which are Gentianaceous plants, are so characterised ; 

 as also Andrographis (Justicia) paniculata, Wall., of the natural 

 order Acanthacese, which is described in its proper place, is so 

 designated. It is, therefore, somewhat remarkable, considering the 

 number of substitutes for the true Chiretta, which are thus known 

 in India, that some of them should not have found their way, 

 accidentally or intentionally, into other parts of the world ; but 

 none such have been described until one of us noticed at the end 

 of the year 1874, the substitution of the plant of Ophelia angusti- 

 folia } Don, which is called in India Puharee (hill) Chiretta, for 

 that of the true Chiretta, and the substitution is still to be found 

 in this country. This spurious Chiretta may be readily distin- 

 guished from that of the true drug by the far less bitter taste of 

 its infusion ; by its stems being evidently quadrangular and some- 

 what winged throughout their whole length ; and by their trans- 

 verse section exhibiting a thick woody ring on the outside, and 

 with the centre hollow or presenting but faint traces of pith. 



Medical Properties and Uses. Chiretta is highly valued in India 

 as a powerful and pure bitter tonic, without aroma or astringency ; 

 but it is comparatively little used in this country, and but very 

 slightly so on the Continent, and in the United States. It is, 

 however, more bitter than Gentian, and may be employed in 



