388 SUBTERRANEAN ORGANS 



but a disagreeable bitter and acrid taste. Occasionally the entire 

 bulbs are imported, but they are difficult to keep in the fresh state, 

 as they preserve their vitality for a long time, and if allowed to remain 

 in a warm place rapidly develop an aerial shoot. 



Constituents. The constituents of squill are imperfectly known. 

 Merck (1879) separated scillitoxin, scillipicrin, and scillin, all of which 

 exhibit glucosidal properties. Scillitoxin and scillipicrin are both 

 amorphous and act upon the heart, the former being the more active 

 of the two ; scillin is crystalline, but is inactive. Scillain ( Jarmerstedt, 

 1880) appears to be a purer form of scillitoxin. Waliszewski (1893) 

 separated scillinin, scillipicrin and scillamarin. Kopaczewski (1914) 

 isolated scillitin and scillidiuretin ; scillitin (0-2 to O37 per cent.) is 

 an intensely bitter, purified form of scillitoxin and probably the active 

 constituent in the purest condition yet obtained. 



The bulbs also contain mucilage, sinistrin (a carbohydrate soluble 

 in water but insoluble in alcohol, probably identical with triticin and 

 irisin), and calcium oxalate in bundles of long acicular crystals ; the 

 latter easily penetrate the skin when the bulbs are handled, and give 

 rise to excessive irritation. This irritation has, however, also been 

 referred to a volatile or unstable substance present in the drug. 



Uses. Squill closely resembles digitalis in increasing the vigour 

 and diminishing the frequency of cardiac action ; it is also a powerful 

 expectorant, and is much used in chronic bronchitis and for coughs 

 generally. In large doses it produces emesis. 



URGINEA 



(Indian Squill, Urginea) 



Source, &C. Indian squill is obtained from Urginea indica, Kunth, 

 a plant resembling European squill but producing a smaller, tunicated 

 bulb ; it is found in sandy soil near the sea throughout India. The 

 bulbs are collected soon after the plants have flowered, divested of 

 their dry, outer, membranous coats, cut into slices and dried. 



Description. The drug occurs in curved or sickle-shaped strips, 

 either separated or connected, several together, to a portion of the 

 shortened axis ; usually 1 to 5 cm. long and 5 to 10 mm. wide ; yellowish 

 white, fleshy, often longitudinally ribbed ; tough when slightly moist 

 but brittle and pulverisable when dry ; taste bitter and acrid. 



Constituents. Indian squill has not yet been thoroughly examined ; 

 in all probability the chief constituents are similar to those of Urginea 

 Scilla. 



Uses. Used in India 'and the Eastern Colonies in the place of 

 European squill. 





