ANAMIRTA COCCULUS 25 



Picrotoxinin exists in picrotoxin in the proportion of 32 to 

 100, and may be separated by boiling in benzine. It is bitter, 

 poisonous, reduced by Fehling's solution and nitrate of silver. 

 Sixty-six per cent, of picrotoxin consists of another bitter sub- 

 stance, non-poisonous picrotin, which is insoluble in benzine 

 and is reduced by Fehling's solution and nitrate of silver. 

 Lastly, anamirtin is found in the mother water of picrotoxin ; 

 it is not bitter, not poisonous, and not reducible by the afore- 

 mentioned reagents. 



The fruit of the anamirta, the "coca de Levante" is an 

 acrid, narcotic poison, which may not be employed internally ; 

 its uses are limited to external medication. In the Pharma- 

 copoeia of India is given the formula for a parasiticide oint- 

 ment, highly recommended in the treatment of pediculi : 



Unguentum anamirtce : 



4 grams Cocculus berries, powdered, 

 30 Vaseline. 

 M. Fiat unguentum. 



In applying this ointment it is necessary to make sure that 

 there is no wound or abrasion of the skin through which ab- 

 sorption might take place. 



BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION. A vine with leaves alternate, 

 entire, glabrous, broadly oval, pointed, with 5 nerves which 

 unite at the base, long petioles. Flowers dioecious, in com- 

 pound racemes. Male flowers consist of a perianth without 

 corolla, the sepals arranged by threes in two or three whorls. 

 The end of the receptacle expanded like a bead, bears a large 

 number of stamens in 6 vertical series, with anthers sessile 

 and 4-lobed. Female flowers analogous as regards the peri- 

 anth, with 6-9 sterile stamens. Carpels formed of 5 ovaries, 

 free, unilocular, containing one ovule each. Fruit, a drupe of 

 a purple color, the size of a filbert, kidney-shaped, the albumen 

 horny. 



