60 
S. Dekindtiana Gilg. These species do not con- 
tain, according to Thoms, any of the alkaloids 
found in nux vomica, but contain a bitter prin- 
ciple, not alkaloidal in character. From speci- 
mens* collected by Mr. and Mrs. Phillips it ap- 
pears that the plant recognized by the Somalis 
as being the source of myrrh is that figured in 
Bentley and Trimen’s ‘ Medicinal Plants.’ 
David Hooper7y records the fact that when 
Psychotria Ipecacuanha is grown in phosphatic 
manure in India it produces double the amount 
of root (by weight) than grown in ordinary soil. 
Unganda Aloes{ corresponds, according to 
W. A. H. Naylor and J.J . Bryant, approxi- 
mately to the characters and tests of Cape Aloes. 
It has been ascertained by J. Moir? that 
when Scabiosa succisa L. (N. O. Dipsacez) is 
chewed by cattle it causes violent inflamma- 
tion of the mouth and tongue. 
A. Dayidson || records the fact that Solanum 
Xanti A Gray, a plant of California, and the 
leaves of the common cultivated fig produce 
eruptions on delicate skins when brought in 
contact therewith. The seeds ‘j of an Euphor- 
biaceous tree, Omphalea megacarpa contain an oil 
which is mild and tasteless and which acts as a 
purgative producing its action in about 3 hours. 
MEDICINAL PRINCIPLES. 
A NEw alkaloid 7 has been discovered in stay- 
esacre (Delphinium Staphisagria) by F. B. Ah- 
rens, which he calls Stapisagroin. It does not 
give any of the reactions for the alkaloids here- 
to-fore found in Delphinium. 
E. Kauder** finds in Anhalonium Lewinii, 
besides mescalin, anhalonidin and lophophorin 
two other bases, viz: Pellotin and Anhalomin. 
The Kampferid++ previously isolated by E. 
Jahns from the alcholic extract of galangal root 
has been further studied by Ciamician and Sil- 
ber. They describe it as occurring in shining 
yellow crystals (M. P. 227-229° C.), which are 
odorless and tasteless. 
* Pharm. Jour. ( London ), 1899, p. 295. 
+ Ibid., p. 381. 
¢Ibid., p. 296. 
2 Vet. Rec., 1899, p. 524. 
|| Therap. Gaz. 1899, p. 86. 
{ Ber. d. D. Chem. Ges., 1899, p. 1581. 
** Arch. d. Pharm., 1899, p. 3. 
tt Chem. Centralbl., 1899. p. 1041. 
SCIENCE. 
[IN. S. Von. X. No. 237: 
The coloring principle ( Scoparin ) of Spartium 
Scoparium L. has been examined by Perkin.* 
He believes it to be probably methoxy-vitexin 
and finds that when digested with hydriodic 
acid it yields, besides methyl-iodide, a new 
coloring principle (Scoparein) which differs 
from Scoparin in possessing marked tinctorial 
properties. 
The dried flowers of Datura alba from China 
have been examined by O. Hesse; and he finds 
them to contain 0.51% of hyoscine (C,;H.,NO,), 
0.03% of hyoscyamine and 0.01% of atropine. 
The hyoscyamine, while similar to that in Hy- 
oscyamus, is not identical with the Scopolamine — 
of Schmidt. 
The active principle { in the root of Callian- 
dra grandiflora Benth., a leguminous shrub of 
Brazil and Mexico, appears to be, according to 
the researches of Duyk, a saponin, which he has 
called caliandrin. Internally it acts as an irri- 
tant and emetic. The poisonous principle 
(temulin) contained in the seeds of Darnel 
(Lolium temulentum) is ascribed by P. Guerin % 
to the presence of a fungus. The mycelia of 
this fungus were also present in two other 
poisonous species of Lolium. 
Further investigations, by J. D. Fillipo, || upon 
the alkaloid in the bark of Tetranthera citrata 
show that it has probably the constitution 
C,,H,,(OCH;),(OH),.NH, and that its action is 
similar to, but less toxic than, strychnine. 
A crystalline principle has been obtained from 
the fruits of Capsicum annuum by Micko ‘| which 
he considers to be the active principle of Capsi- 
cum. The crystals are white; M. P. 6—38 
63.5°C. ; formula ©,;H.;NO;. According to H. 
Molisch,** in the transformation of indican into 
indigo-blue in Indibopera, oxygen appears indis- 
pensable, and a number of bacteria and fungi ac- 
company the reaction. 
HENRY KRAEMER. 
* Proc. Chem. Soc. 1899, p. 123. 
+ Siidd. Apoth. Zeit., 1899, p. 2. 
t Bull. Comm., 27, 81; through Pharm. Jour., 
1899, p. 335. 
2 Morot’s Jour. de Bot., 1898, p, 230; through 
Ibid., p. 251. 
|| Arch. d. Pharm., 1899, p. 601. 
"| Zeitschr. f. Nahr. u. Genuss., 1898, No. 5. 
** Sitz. k. Akad. Wiss. Wien. ; through Pharm. 
Jour., 1899, p. 251. 
