N. O. MELIACEiE. 309 



with a pale yellow tinge. It was sweet in taste and possessed the peculiar 

 aromatic odour of full ripe Neem fruits. On boiling and removing the 

 precipitated albuminous matter, a limpid faintly yellow solution was obtained. 

 Angle of rotation of this solution at 15°C was + 1L°C. Its specific gravity at 

 the same temperature Avas 1*0-589. 



The following is the general composition of the material :— 



Moisture ... ... ... ... 86*56 per cen r -. 



Proteids ... ... ... ... 0*36 „ 



Gums and colouring matter ... ... ... 6*17 ,. 



Glucose (grape sugar) ... ... ... 2*99 ., 



Sucrose (cane sugar) ... ... ... 3'5l ,, 



Ash ... ... .. ... ... 0*41 „ 



Petroleum ether extracted from the dried solids of the toddy only a trace 

 of fatty and resinous matter. Tests for alkaloidal and glucosidal principle 

 were in the negative. 



Qualitative analysis of the ash showed the presence of potassium, iron, 

 aluminium, calcium and carbon dioxide in it. 



From the above analysis it can easily be seen that the toddy cannot claim 

 any special medicinal properties. It is, like all other toddies, a syrupy 

 solution of sugar plus a little albuminous and gummy matter with the peculiar 

 odour of ripe Neem fruits. The valuable active principle of Neem which is 

 an alkaloid according to Cornish and a resinous body according to Broughton 

 (vide Watt's Dictionary of Economic Products), is absent. Hence the Neem 

 toddy can be said to be a cooling nutrient and stimulating tonic, but it does 

 not seem to contain anything which can be said to be useful for leprosy or 

 other skin-diseases. 



Dr. Watt also mentions the tapping of Neem for its toddy. This is not 

 a general practice, but if it can be successfully tapped, and if it is made 

 available in large quantities, then it might be a fruitful source of country 

 liquor or even alcohol, and in that case the tree might well be brought under 

 the Excise Act. 



This investigation was carried out under the instructions of the Forest 

 Chemist. 



.263. M. azadarach, Linn, h.f.b.i., i. 544. Roxb, 

 369. 



The English " Persian " Lilac. 



Habitat. — Commonly cultivated in India and Burma ; wild 

 in the Sub- Himalaya tract. Supposed to be indigenous in Balu- 

 chistan and the Jhelum valley in Kashmir (Brandis) and 

 naturalized. 



Syn. — Melia sempervirens, Sw. ; M. Bukayun, Royle. 



Sanskrit. — Mahanimba, himadruma, parvata-nimba-vriksha 

 (Sans.) 



