7M 



MANUAL OF POISONOUS PLANTS 



Cinchona contains a large number of alkaloids of which the following are 

 more important: Cinchonin, Cj^gH^jN^O, quinamin, Cj^gHj^N^Oj, quinin, 

 ^0^24^202' hydroquinin. Cj^H^gN^O^, aricin, C^gH^jN^^. Another alka- 

 loid belonging to this group is disinchonin, C^gH^^N^O^. Javanin, 

 CjjHjgN^O^, occurs in Calisaya bark. The Cuprea bark {Remijia pedunculata) 

 from the U.S. of Colombia is also used in the manufacture of quinine and 

 contains cinchonanin, Cj^H^^N^O. The partridge berry (.Mitchella repens) 

 is a tonic. Gambier (Uncaria) of the East Indies is used for tanning. The 

 root of ipecac (Psychotria Ipecacuanha) of Brazil is a systemic emetic used 

 as a remedy in dysentery and contains emetin, C^gH^^N^Og and cephaelin, 

 Cj^Hj^NOj. Madder (Rubia tinctorum') of the Levant and Southern Europe 

 is used for dyeing and contains a red coloring matter, alisarin. The Morinda 

 citrifolia contains a yellow coloring principle morindin. The cape jasmine 

 (Gardenia jasminoides) also contains a yellow coloring resembling crocin. 



Coffee obtained from the Coffea arabica and other species, contains the 

 chemical principle caffein C^^^'Hfi^. This is the same as thein. This sub- 

 stance occurs in a large number of plants including cocoa (Theohroma Cacao), 

 cola {Cola acuminata), yopan {Ilex Cassine), mate (7. paraguensis) , Sterculia 

 platanifolia, Paullinia Cupana. 



Green seeds of Coffee arabica contain 1.22 per cent of caffein or thein 

 CjH^jjN^O,, the young leaves of Chinese tea 2.12 per cent. Caffeidin 

 Cj.H,,N^O is obtained from caffein. Caffein causes the heart to beat more 



Fig. 432. Cinchona {Chinchona lancifolia}. A 

 native of Peru and one of tlle species furnishing 

 the Peruvian bark of commerce. (From Stras- 

 burger, Noll, Schenck and Schimper). 



forcibly ; it is a cerebral stimulant, producing wakefulness and restlessness ; in 

 lower animals it produces excitement and mania. From a toxicological point it 

 is a spinal and muscle poison to the frog. In dogs and mammals it causes 

 restlessness, and in dogs it produces vomiting. The minimum fatal dose ac- 

 cording to Winslow is 1 gr. to 1 lb. of live weight. 



