4 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



proceeds more quickly if platinum black, hydrogen peroxide, or barium 

 peroxide is employed. J. Oh. S. 1893 AT. 727. 



(2) But in J. Oh. S. 1896 AT. 623, the formula given for Anemonin is C 10 H 8 

 4 . It is also stated there that it yields methyl and ethyl derivatives, 

 which are apparent^ ethereal salts, showing that it is the anhydride of a 

 dicarboxylic acid. Dimethyl anemonin , C 3 H d (C00Me) 2 , melts at 109-110°, me- 

 thylanemonin at 174-176°, diethyl anemonin at 47°, and ethylanemonin at 

 168-170°. (3) The said dicarboxylic acid is a ketonic acid. (4) By oxidation, 

 anemonin yields succinic and oxalic acids. (5) By hydrolysis of the dialkylic 

 salts before mentioned with alkali and amorphous acid, C 10 H 8 4 -f 2H 2 is 

 formed, but hydrolysis of them with HC1 yields a crystalline acid, C 10 H 8 

 4 4-H 2 0. The amorphous acid gives coloured, the crystalline acid colourless, 

 salts. (6) Anemonin is a saturated compound, for by reduction it yields a 

 saturated hydroxy-acid, and absorbs neither chlorine (Hubl's solution) nor 

 bromine. 



5. Thalictrum foliolosum, D.C. h.f.br.l, i. 14. 



Vern. : — Pinjari ; Shuprak (root-pili-jari) (H.) ; Pila-jari, 

 pengla jari, barmat (roo£-mainira) (Kumaon) ; Gurbiani, pash- 

 maran, phalijori, Chitra-mul, Keraita, Mamira (Pb.) ; Chaitra 

 (Kashmir); Mamiran (Bombay). 



Habitat : — Temperate Himalaya ; Khasia bills. 



A tall perennial rigid herb. Stem 4-8 ft. glabrous. Leaves 

 exstipulate, pinnately- decompound ; petiole sheaths auricled. 

 Leaflets \-% in. rarely 1 in., orbicular. Panicles much branched, 

 bracts small. Floicers polygamous, white, pale green, dingy 

 purple. Sepals 4-5. Petals 0. Stamens many, filaments filiform ; 

 anthers beaked. Ovule 1, pendulous. Aehenes usually 2-5, small, 

 oblong, acute at both ends, sharply ribbed. 



Parts used : — The root. 



Uses: — Tt has been found useful as a tonic. "I adminis- 

 tered it in the form of a tincture to some extent when at the 

 European General Hospital, Bomba}^ and found it a good bitter 

 tonic, comparable with gentian." (Dymock.). 



The root is largely used as an anjan, or application for 

 ophthalmia in Afghanistan and throughout India. 



In the Punjab, the root is used as a purgative and diuretic. 

 (Baden Powell). 



