.N. 0. .MENISPERMACEJfc.. . ; 00. 



active [a]v — — Q'2Q\ The calcium salt, (C 15 H 16 Br0 7 ) 2 Ca-f 5F 2 0, potassium salt, 

 with 2H 2 0, ammonium salt, and mercurous salt have been prepared. 



Picrotoxia acid, C 1S H 18 7 , obtained in small amount by the removal of 

 bromine from the bromo-acid by the aid of sodium amalgam in alkaline 

 solution, crystallises from water in needles melting* at 229-230°, and has no 

 bitter taste ; its aqueous solution has strong reducing properties, and it 

 readily undergoes decomposition in both aqueous and ethereal solution. 



The substance obtained by Paterno and Oglialoro by the action of sodium 

 acetate and acetic anhydride on pikrotoxin, and described as an unsaturated 

 acid, is shown to be diacetylpih'otoxinin, at 247-248°. When a large excess 

 of benzoic chloride is employed, no definite product is obtained. 



Acetylpikrotin, C IS H 17 7 Ac, crystallises from benzene, alcohol, or acetic 

 acid in glistening plates melting at 244-245°, and is probably identical with 

 the compound described by Paterno and Oglialoro as diacetylpikrotoxinin and 

 melting at 227°. When pikrotin is allowed to remain in contact with acetic 

 chloride for 24 hours at the ordinary temperature, and then heated until 

 complete solution ensues, two compounds are obtained. Anhydrodiacetyl- 

 pikrotin, C 15 H 14 6 Ac 2 , which is precipitated, on the addition of alcohol, 

 in crystalline masses melting above 300°, and diacetyl pikrotin, Cj S H l6 7 Ac^ 

 which is obtained as an oil from the alcoholic mother liquor ; when it is hot, 

 aqueous solution is allowed to cool, drops of oil separate, which solidify to 

 crystalline needles melting at 207-210° ; these contain 2 H 2 0. 



Attempts to convert pikrotin into pikrotoxinin by removal of the elements 

 of water have not proved successful. 



When warmed with fuming nitric acid, pikrotin yields a nitro-derivative. 

 C 15 H 15 O -. No 2 , anhydi'onitropikrotin, melting at 260°. 



/. Ch.S. 1899 A I. 226-227. 



42. Coscinium fenestratum, Colebr. h.f.b.i., 

 1.99. 



Syn. : — Menisperum fenestratum, Gaertn. 



Vem. i— Jhar-ki-haldi, or Jhadi haladi (Dec.j ; Haldi-gach 

 (B.)\ Mara-Manjal (Tarn.) ; Maim pasupu (Tel.) ; Marada-ariskina 

 (Kan.) Veniwel. (Mar. ; and Sinkalese). 



Hobitat: — Western Peninsula, Central and South India. 

 Malacca, Singapore, Ceylon « 



A woody climber, bark smooth, young shoots densely but 

 finely yellow-tomentose. Leaves large, 4-8 in,, broadly ovate or 

 rounded, suddenly acute, truncate, rounded, subcordate or 

 slightly peltate at base, entire, glabrous above, densely felted, 

 with fine yellow tomentum beneath, strongly 5-7-nerved ; 



