xn. a. i Brill and Wells: Medicinal Plants, II 173 



reiro " considered that the seeds of Quisqualis had not only ver- 

 mifugal properties, but also that it was a corroborant astringent 

 and a nephritic. 



Hanbury 10 speaks of this drug while referring to a work of 

 Dr. E. J. Waring concerning the indigenous anthelmintics of 

 India and remarks about its effectiveness against worms in 

 children. 



Soubeiran " says that the fruits of Quisqualis are an excellent 

 vermifuge if four or five seeds are taken before breakfast on the 

 morning of the first days of the month. Unsound fruits or those 

 that have begun to open should not be taken, as they cause 

 hiccough. 



This symptom, which as a rule occurs only when too many 

 of the seeds have been taken, does not occur in every individual. 

 Some individuals can swallow great quantities of them without 

 causing hiccough; for these it acts only as a laxative. 



It is claimed that the roots also possess the same vermifugal 

 qualities as the kernel. 



CHEMICAL EXAMINATION OF QUISQUALIS INDICA 



The leaves, roots, and fruit of Quisqualis indica were analyzed. 



We found no compounds in the leaves or roots which would 

 seem to have any physiological effect. No alkaloid was found. 

 None of the extracts showed any results with dogs or guinea 

 pigs when administered intraperitoneally or by the mouth. 



The yellowish kernels from six of the dry fruits were eaten by 

 an adult. They produced the effect of a mild laxative. The nuts 

 contained 12.96 per cent moisture and a yellow oil, representing 

 28.37 per cent of the original nut. 

 Table I. — Constants of the oil extracted from the dried meat of the nut of 



Quisqualis 



indica 



{ether 



extraction) 







Specific gravity at 30° 



C. 









0.9075 



Refractive index at 30° 



c. 









1.4585 



Polarization 











0.00 



Saponification No. 











187.97 



Iodine No. (Hanus) 











66.49 



Reichert Meissl. No. 











1.4 



Acetyl value 

 Appearance 









clear, 



3.787 

 yellow 



a Loureiro, J. Flora Cochinchinensis. Ulyssipone (1790), 1, 274. 



10 Hanbury, Daniel, Notes on Chinese Materia Medica. John E. Taylor, 

 London (1862), 15. Reprinted from Pharm. Journ. for May, July, October 

 (1861). 



17 Soubeiran, L. Leon, La Matiere Medical chez les Chinois. G. Masson, 

 Paris (1874), 262. 



