780 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLOTS. 



linear-lanceolate or slightly obovate, much tapering to base- 

 rather suddenly accuminate, subacute, glabrous, pale beneath, 

 rather thick, venation pellucid, lateral veins numerous, horizon- 

 tal, connected by an intermarginal one. Petiole l-ljin. long. 

 Flowers large, on a stout erect peduncle, white, with throat yellow, 

 sweet scented, in ample terminal cymes or flat topped panicles ; 

 bracts J-lin. long, oblong, acute deciduous. Calyx segments f-fin. 

 linear-oblong, acute, recurved, glabrous, deciduous. Corolla-tube 

 fin., lower third narrow, upper part dilated, throat nearly 

 closed by 5 pubescent projecting wings ; lobes lin. Ovule, obtuse, 

 oblique ; filaments very short (Trimen). Ovary of 2 distinct 

 carpels united by a single style. Fruit (from the abortion of 

 one carpel) a drupe, 2-4in. long, flattened on one side, with a 

 fibrous endocarp. Seed usually one, oily, albumen (Brandis). 



Uses: — The whole plant is full of an acid milky juice. 

 Emetic and purgative properties are assigned to the milky sap 

 and to the leaves, but their use is to be condemned (Ph. Ind.). 



The nut is narcotic and poisonous. The green fruit is 

 employed to kill dogs (Balfour . 



The fruit combined with Datura is a part of remedy given 

 by native physicians for hydrophobia (Pharamcographic Indica, 

 Vol. II, p. 410. 



The bark is purgative (^Yatt). 



The kernel of the fruit is an irritant poison, producing, 



when taken internally, vomiting and purging, soon followed by 



collapse and death (Surgeon-Major Houston, in Watt's 



Dictionary.) 



Cerebrin C 27 H 40 O 3 occurs in the seeds. It forms colourless, odourless crys- 

 tals, with a bitter taste, turns yellow at 180—185°, and melts at 191—192° (corr.). 

 It disparts of the solvent at 16-21°,— Chloroform 8'83 ; alcohol 90 per cent. 1243, 

 absolute, 12-89, 75 per cent. 27*27 ; isobutyl alcohol, 147 ; amyl alcohal, 14*87 ; 

 ether 178-5, benzene, 5447; carbon tetrachloride, 813; water, 5555 (at 100°, 4974); 

 carbon bisulphide, 12, 487 ; light petroleum (sp. gr. 0'675), 36, 730. It has the 

 following values of specific rotation : [a] D ; in 90 per cent, alcohol— 74 , 61°; in 

 ether— 64*76° ; in chloroform, 74*82°; in acetic acid— 80'8 1'. Analysis and mole- 

 cular weight determinations lead to the formula C 27 H 04 O 8 ; but its properties 

 show that it is not identical either with the taughinin of Arnaud or with the 

 the thevetin of De Yrij. It exhibits the following colour reactions : I. Yellow 

 coloration, when warmed with dilute sulphuric, hydrochloric, or nitric acid. 



