496 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY., Vol. X. 



therein that of the two glncosides contained in Bryonia alba. ^ Bryonin 

 and Bryonidin^ tho former is entirely without action, while the latter 

 is poisonous only in large doses. The substances, hitherto known as 

 Bryonin and regarded as. the active agent of Radix hryonice, are 

 simply more or less purified extracts of the root, and probably contain 

 both glucosides. The Bryonin of Schwerdtfeger is a mixture of 

 the two glucosides, with the other substances, while Walz's bryonin 

 is probably a mixture of this glucoside, with hryonidin in smaller 

 quantities. Introduced into the stomach, bryonidin causes inflamma- 

 tion of the stomach and larger intestines ; introduced into the veins, 

 onlv slight inflammation of the latter. The pancreatic juice decom- 

 poses ^T-yonif^iw, and renders it inoperative." Bryonidin ^^ha.B no 

 effect on the peristaltic action of the intestines, nor on the activity of 

 the heart, nor on the peripheral nerves s introduced into living 

 organs, it causes an eoiargement of the vessels." 



If any testimony were needed to establish the poisonous properties 

 of the plant I am describing, the quotations I have cited above will be 

 ample, Brigade-Surgeon Lyon was quite justified in drawing attention 

 to Corallocarpus epig<Ba in his standard work on Medical Juris- 

 prudence [vide p. 201, Edition 1889) while dwelling on the poisonous 

 properties of some of the members of the Cvcurbiiaceous Family. 

 Dr. Lyon says that the root of Corallocarpus epigcea contains a 

 bitter yellow principle which Dr. Dymock suggests may possibly 

 prove identical with bryonin. This Dr. Dymock and his colleagues 

 have established in their subsequent researches and these I have quoted 

 above. Sowerby and the Johnsons, in the second edition of their 

 British Poisonous Plants (London, 1861, pp. 16-17), have very 

 largely dwelt on the poisonous properties of the ** Red-berried, 

 common or white-bryony," — an English congener of the plant I am 

 describing, and the only poisonous representative belonging to the 

 Cueurbitacem found among the British wild plants. Sowerby 

 observes that ^' the large fleshy pale-coloured root is often seen suspended 

 in herb-shops, occasionally trimmed into a human form." Remember 

 my warning words in a foregoing page to the inexperienced 

 Indian collectors of the mandrake root. The root, says Sowerby, 

 is a powerful and highly irritant purgative, decoction of which is 

 sometimes recommended by self-constituted medical advisers (of 



